II 



9 

m m 


mm 


B 



1 



Ml 



HBBi wma 



HDBlim 















'+*. v> 







































**V 



v ' b A 



V 








r*. y> 









* .., °- 



\0 ^ " ' 



<H % 









\> * ' - 










THE 

TRIUMPHS 

O F 

TEMPER; 

A POEM: 



IN SIX CANTOS. 



By WILLIAM HAYLEY, Eso. 



O voi ch' avete gl' intelletti fani 
Mirate la dottrina, che fl afconde 
Sotto' il velame degli verfi ftrani. 

Dante, Inferno, Canto 9. 



THE ELEVENTH EDITION, CORRECTED* 



L ND ON: 

PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, JUN. AND W. DAVIES, 
IN THE STRAND. 

l80T. 



[R. Noble, Printer; Old Bailey.] 



Gift 

W. L. Shoemaker 

1 Z '06 



PREFACE. 

IT feems to be a kind of duty incumbent on 
thofe who devote themfelves to poetry, to raife, 
if poffible, the dignity of a declining art, by 
making it as beneficial to life and manners as 
the limits of compofition, and the character of 
modern times, will allow. The ages, indeed, 
are paft, in which the fong of the poet was 
idolized for its miraculous effecls ; yet a poem, 
intended to promote the cultivation of good- 
humour, may ftill perhaps be fortunate enough 
to prove of fome little fervice to fociety in 
general ; or, if this idea may be thought too 
chimerical and romantic by fober reafon, it is 
at leaft one of thofe pleafing and innocent de- 
lufions, in which a poetical enthufiaft may be 
fafely indulged. 



VI PREFACE, 

The following production owes its exiftence 
to an incident in real life, very limilar to the 
principal action of the laft canto ; but in form- 
ing the general plan of the work, it feemed to 
me abfolutely neceffary to introduce both the 
agency and the abode of Spleen, notwithftand- 
ing the difficulty and the hazard of attempting 
a fubjecl: fo happily executed by the mafterly 
pencil of Pope. I confidered his Cave of 
Spleen as a mod exquifite cabinet picture ; 
and, to avoid the fervility of imitation, I de- 
termined to fketch the manfion of this gloomy 
power on a much wider canvas : happy, in- 
deed, if the judgment of the public may enable 
me to exclaim with the honeft vanity of the 
painter, who compared his own works to the 
divine productions Qf Raphael, 

ii E Ton pittore anch' Io \" 



PREFACE. Vii 



The celebrated AleiTandro Taffoni, who is 
generally confidered as the inventor of the 
modern Heroi-comic poetry, was fo proud of 
having extended the limits of his art by a new 
kind of composition, that he not only fpoke of 
it with infinite exultation in one of his private 
letters, but even gave a MS. copy of his work 
to his native city of Modena, with an inferip- 
tion, in which he ftiled it a new fpecies of 
poetry, invented by himfelf. 

A few r partial friends have afferted, that the 
prefent performance has fome degree of ftmilar 
merit ; but as I apprehend all the novelty it 
poffeffes, may rather require an apology, than 
entitle its author to challenge commendation, 
I (hall explain how far the conduct of the 
poem differs from the moft approved models 
in this mode of writing, and {lightly mention 
the poetical effects, which fuch a variation ap- 
pcared likely to produce, 



Vlll PREFACE. 



It is well known, that the favourite poems, 
which blend the ferious and the comic, re- 
prefent their principal characters in a fatirical 
point of view : it was the intention of Taffoni 
(though prudence made him attempt to conceal 
it) to fatirize a particular Italian nobleman, who 
happened to be the objedl of his refentment, 
Boileau ridicules the French ecclefiaftics with- 
out referve in his Lutrin ; Garth, our Englifh 
phylicians, in his Difpenfary ; and the Rape of 
the Lock itfelf, that moft excellent and en- 
chanting poem, which I never contemplate but 
with new idolatry, is denominated the bejl fatire 
extant, by the learned Dr. Warton, in his very 
elegant and ingenious, but fevere, Effay on 
Pope : a fentence which feems to be confirmed 
by the poet himfelf, in his letter to Mrs. 
Fermor, where he fays, " the character of 
Belinda, as it is now managed, refemblcs you in 



PREFACE. IX 

nothing but in beauty. " Though I think, that 
no compofition can furpafs, or perhaps ever 
equal this moft happy effort of genius, as a 
fportive fatire, I imagined it might be poftible 
to give a new character to this mixed fpecies 
of poetry, and to render it by its object, though 
not in its execution, more noble than the moft 
beautiful and refined fatire can be. We have 
feen it carried to inimitable perfection, in the 
moft delicate raillery on female foibles :■ — it re- 
mained to be tried, if it might not alfo afpire to 
delineate the more engaging features of female 
excellence. The idea appeared to me worth 
the experiment ; for, if it fucceeded, it feemed 
to promife a double advantage ; firft, it would 
give an air of novelty to the poem ; and, 
fecondly, what I thought of much greater 
importance, it would render it more interefting 
to the heart. On thefe principles, I have en- 



X PREFACE. 

deavoured to paint Serena as a mod lovely, 
engaging, and accomplifhed character ; yet I 
hope the colouring is fo faithfully copied from 
general nature , that every man who reads the 
poem, may be happy enough to know many 
fair ones who refemble my heroine. 

There is another point, in which I have alfo 
attempted to give this poem an air of novelty ; 
I mean the manner of conneding the real and 
the vifionary fcenes which compofe it ; by fhift- 
ing thefe in alternate cantos, I hoped to make 
familiar incident and allegorical pifture afford a 
firong relief to each other, and keep the atten- 
tion of the reader alive by an appearance par- 
ticularly diverfified. I wifhed, indeed, (but I 
fear moft ineffectually) for powers to unite fome 
touches of the fportive wildnefs of Ariofto, and 
the more ferious fublime painting of Dante, 
with fome portion of the enchanting elegance, 



PREFACE, XI 



the refined imagination, and the moral graces 
of Pope ; and to do this, if poffible, without 
violating thofe rules of propriety, which Mr, 
Cambridge has illuftrated, by example as well 
as precept, in the Scribleriad, and in his fen- 
fible preface to that elegant and learned poem. 
I have now very frankly informed my reader 
of the extent, or rather the extravagance of my 
defire ; for I will not give it the ferious name 
of dejign : t they, whom an enlightened tafte has 
rendered thoroughly fenfible how very difficult 
it muft be to accomplifh fuch an idea, will not 
only be the firft to difcern, but the mod ready 
to pardon thofe errors into which fo hazardous 
an attempt may perhaps have betrayed me. I 
had thoughts of introducing this performance 
to the public, by a diflertation of confiderable 
length on this fpecies of poetry ; but I forbear 
to indulge myfelf any further in fuch prelimi- 






Xll PREFACE. 



nary remarks, as the anxiety of authors is fo 
apt to produce, from the reflexion, that, how- 
ever ingenioufly written, they add little or no- 
thing to the fuccefs of a good poem, and are 
utterly inefficient to prevent that negleft, or 
oblivion, which is the inevitable fate of a bad 
one. 

In difmifling a work to my fair readers, 
which is intended principally for their perufal, 
I mail only recommend it to their attention ; 
and bid them farewell, in the words of the 
pleafant and courteous TafToni — 

" Vaglia il buon voler, s' altro non lice, 
E chi la leggera, viva felice !" 



Eartham, 
Jan. 31, 1781. 



THE 



TRIUMPHS of TEMPER. 



CANTO I. 



X HE mind's foft guardian, who, tho' yet unfung, 
Infpires with harmony the female tongue, 
And gives, improving every tender grace, 
The fmile of angels to a mortal face ; 
Her powers I fing ; and fcenes of mental ftrife, 
Which form the maiden for th' accomplish 'd wife; 
Where the fweet victor fees, with fparkling eyes, 
Love her reward, and happinefs her prize. 
Daughters of beauty, who the fong infpire, 
To your enchanting notes attune my lyre ! 
And oh ! if haply your foft hearts may gain 
Or ufe, or pleafure from the motley ftrain, 



THE TRIUMPHS 



Tho' formal critics, with a furly frown, 
Deny your artlefs bard the laurel crown, 
He ftill fhall triumph, if ye deign to fpread 
Your fweeter myrtle round his honour'd head. 

In your bright circle young Serena grew ; 
A lovelier nymph the pencil never drew ; 
For the fond Graces form'd her eafy mien, 
And heaven's foft azure in her eye was feen. 
She feem'd a rofe-bud, when it firft receives 
The genial fun in its expanding leaves ; 
For now (he enter 'd thofe important years, 
When the full bofom fwells with hopes and fears ; 
When confcious nature prompts the fecret figh, 
And fheds fweet languor o'er the melting eye j 
When nobler toys the female heart trepan, 
And dolls rejected, yield their place to man. 

Beneath a father's care Serena grew ; 
The good Sir Gilbert, to his country true, 
A faithful Whig, who, zealous for the flate, 
In freedom's fervice led the loud debate ; 



OF TEMPER. 



Yet every day, by tranfmutation rare, 
Turn'd to a Tory in his elbow-chair, 
And made his daughter pay, howe'er abfurd, 
Paflive obedience to his fovereign word. 

In his domeftic fway he borrow'd aid 
From prim Penelope, an ancient maid, 
His upright filler, confcious of her worth, 
Who valued ftill her beauty, and her birth ; 
Tho' from her birth no envied rank (he gain'd, 
And of her beauty but the ghoft remain'd ; 
A reftlefs ghoft ! that with remembrance keen 
Proclaim'd inceffant what it once had been; 
Delighted ftill the fteps of youth to haunt, 
To watch the tender nymph, and warm gallant ; 
And with an eye that petrified purfuit, . 
Hang, like the dragon o'er th* Hefperian fruit. 

Tho' ftriclly guarded by this jealous power, 
The mild Serena no reftraint could four : 
Pure was her bofom as the filver lake, 
Ere rifing winds the ruffled water fhake 5 



THE TRIUMPHS 



When the bright pageants of the morning fky 

Acrofs th' expanfive mirror lightly fly, 

By vernal gales in quick fucceflion driven, 

While the clear glafs refle&s the light of heaven. 

In gay content a fportive life fhe led, 

The child of Modefty, by Virtue bred : 

Her light companions Innocence and Eafe; 

Her hope was pleafure, and her wifh to pleafe : 

For this, to Fafhion early rites fhe paid ; 

For this, to Venus fecret vows fhe made ; 

Nor held it fin to caft a private glance 

O'er the dear pages of a new romance, 

Eager in fiftion's touching fcenes to find 

A field, toexercife her youthful mind: 

The touching fcenes new energy impreft 

On all the virtues of her feeling breaft. 

Sweet Evelina's fafcinating power 

Had firft beguil'd of fleep her midnight hour ; 

Pofleft by fympathy's enchanting fway, 

She read, unconfcious of the dawning day. 




I d<» .ToHafini Sept5 if i^.WT-C *&-!!£ naud - 



OF TEMPER. 



" Man as he is n her gentle heart alarm'd ; 
His troubles griev'd her, but his fpirit charm'd. 
The generous Paradyne had faults, fhe own'd, 
But fweet contrition for thofe faults aton'd : 
In her pure thought it gave him fuch a grace, 
He feem'd a model for the human race : 
Hermfprong arofe ; his rivals all declin'd ; 
He fway'd, with fweet afcendancy, her mind ; 
His favage virtues grew fupremely dear, 
Gracefully frank, and amiably auftere ; 
Soon for the hero of her heart fhe chofe 
This bright reverfe of fafhionable beaux, 
And, tho' a pattern of ideal truth, 
Hop'd the wide world might yield her fuch a youth. 
The Modern Anecdote was next convey'd 
Beneath her pillow by her faithful maid. 
The nymph, attentive as the brooding dove, 
Por'd o'er the tender fcenes of Franzel's love : 
The finking taper now grew weak and pale ; 
..Serena figh'd, and dropt th' unnniflVd tale : 

B 



THE TRIUMPHS 



But, as warm clouds in vernal aether roll, 
The foft ideas floated in her foul : 
. Free from ambitious pride, and envious care, 
To love, and to be lov'd, was all her pray'r : 
While thefe fond thoughts her gentle mind poffefs'd^ 
Soft flumber fettled on her fnowy breaft. 

Scarce had her radiant eyes began to clofe, 
When to her view a friendly vifion rofe : 
A fairy Phantom ftruck her mental fight, 
Light as the goflamer, as aether bright ; 
Array'd like Pallas was the pigmy form, 
When the fage goddefs ftills the martial ftorm ; 
Her cafque was amber, richly grac'd above 
With down, collected from the callow dove : 
Her burniuVd breaft-plate of a deeper dye, 
Was once the armour of a golden fly : 
A lynx's eye her little aegis fhone, 
By fairy fpells converted into flone, 
And worn of old, as elfin poets fing, 
By Egypt's lovely queen, a favourite ring : 



OF TEMPER, 



Myfterious power was in the magic toy, 

To turn the frowns of care to fmiles of joy. 

Her tiny lance, whofe radiance ftream'd afar, 

Was one bright fparkle from the bridal ftar. 

A filmy mantle round her figure play'd, 

Fine as the texture by Arachne laid 

O'er fome young plant, when glittering to the view 

With many an orient pearl of morning dew. 

The Phantom hover'd o'er the confcious Fair 

With fuch a lively fmile of tender care, 

As on her elfin lord Titania caft, 

When firft fhe found his angry fpell was paft. 

Round her rich locks Serena chanc'd to tie 

An ample ribband of caerulean dye ; 

High o'er her forehead rofe the graceful bow, 

Whofe arch commanded the fweet fcene below : 

The hovering Spirit view'd the tempting fpot, 

And lightly perch'd on this unbending knot ; 

As the fair flutterer, of Pfyche's race, 

Is feen to terminate her airy chafe, 



$ 



THE TRIUMPHS 



When, pleas'd at length her quivering wings to clofe, 
Fondly fhe fettles on the fragrant rofe. 

Now in foft notes, more mufically clear 
Than ever Fairy breath'd in mortal ear, 
Thefe words the vifionary voice convey'd 
To the charm'd fpirit of the fleeping maid : 

" Thou darling of my care ! whofe ripen'd worth 
Shall fp read my empire o'er the fmiling earth ; 
Whom Nature bleft, forbidding modifh Art, 
To cramp thy fpirit, or contract thy heart ; 
Screen'd from thy thought, nor in thy vifions felt, 
Long on thy opening mind I've fondly dwelt ; 
In childhood's forrows brought thee quick relief, 
And dry'd thy April-fhowers of infant grief ; 
Taught thee to laugh at the malicious boy, 
Who broke thy playthings with a barbarous joy, 
To bear what ills the little female haunt, 
The tefty nurfe, th'imperious gouvernante, 
And that tyrannic peft, the prying maiden aunt. 



OF TEMPER, 



Now ripening years a nobler fcene fupply ; 
For life now opens cm thy fparkling eye : 
Thy rifing bofom fwells with juft defire 
Rapture to feel, and rapture to infpire : 
Not the vain blifs, the tranfitory joys, 
That childifli woman feels in radiant toys ; 
The coftly diamond, or the lighter pearl, 
The maffive Nabob, or the tinfel Earl. 
Thy heart demands, each meaner aim above, 
Th' imperifhable wealth of flerling love ; 
Thy wifh, to pleafe by every fofter grace 
Of elegance and eafe, of form and face ! 
By lively fancy and by fenfe refhVd, 
The ftronger magic of the cultur'd mind ! 
Thy pure ambition, and thy virtuous plan, 
To fix the variable heart of man ! 
Short is the worfhip paid at Beauty's fhrine ; 
But lafting love and happinefs are mine : 
[ Mine, tho' the earth's miftaken, blinded race 9 
Defpife my influence, and my name debafe ; 



lO THE TRIUMPHS 



Nor breathe one vow to that setherial friend. 
On whom the colours of their life depend. 
But to thy innocence I now difphy 
The myftic marvels of my fecret fway ; 
And tell, in this thy fate-deciding hour, 
My race, my name, my office, and my power. 

Firft, hear what wonders human forms contain ! 
And learn the texture of the female brain ! 
By Nature's care in curious order fpread, 
This living net is fram'd of tender thread ; 
Fine as thy hand, fome favour 'd youth to grace, 
Knits with nice art to form the mimic lace. 
Within the centre of this fretted dome, 
Her fecret tower, her heav'n-conftru&ed home, 
Soft Senfibility, fweet Beauty's foul ! 
Keeps her coy ftate, and animates the whole, 
Invifible as Harmony, who fprings, 
Wak'd by young Zephyr, from yEolian firings : 
Her fubtle power, more delicately fine, 
Dwells in each thread, and lives in every line, 



OF TEMPER. 11 



Whofe quick vibrations, without end, impart 

Pleafure and pain to the refponfive heart. 

As Zephyr's breath the willing chord infpires, 

Whifpering foft mufic to the trembling wires, 

So with fond care I regulate, unfeen, 

The fofter movements of this nice machine ; 

Temper, my earthly name, the nurfe of Love ! 

But call'd Sophrosyne in realms above ! 

When lovely Woman, perfeft at her birth, 

Bleft with her early charms the wond'ring earth, 

Her foul, in fweet fimplicity array 'd, 

Nor fhar'd my guidance, nor requir'd my aid. 

Her tender frame, nor confident nor coy, 

Had every fibre tun'd to gentle joy : 

No vain caprices fwell'd her pouting lip ; 

No gold produc'd a mercenary trip ; 

Soft innocence infpir'd her willing kifs, 

Her love was nature, and her life was blifs. 

Guide of his reafon, not his paflion's prey, 

She tam'd the favage, Man, who blefs'd her fway. 



12 THE TRIUMPHS 

No jarring wifhes fill'd the world with woes. 
But youth was ecflacy, and age repofe* 

The Powers of Mifchief met in dark divan, 
To blafl thefe mighty joys of envied Man : 
The fiends, at their infernal leader's call. 
Framed their bafe wiles in Demogorgon 5 s hall, 
In the deep centre of that dreadful dome, 
A hellifh cauldron boil'd with fiery foam : 
In this wide urn the circling fpirits threw 
Ingredients harfh, and hideous to the view ; 
While the terrific mafter of the fpell 
With adjurations fhook the depths of hell, 
And in dark words, unmeet for mortal ear, 
Bade the dire offspring of his art appear. 
Forth from the vafe, with fullen murmurs, broke 
A towering mafs of peftilential fmoke : 
Emerging from this fog of thickefh night, 
A phantom fwells, by flow degrees, to fight ; 
But ere the view can feize the forming fhape, 
From the mock'd eye its lineaments efcape : 



jPapcn. 



StoJiard del tfAarp^ctc/p. 1 

I^T*bnJ*ubtyhtdS'cprt*ydd.lyT&de71SU-and. 



OF TEMPER. 13 

It feem'd all paflions melted into one, 
Affum'd the face of all, and yet was none : 
Hell flood aghaft at its portentous mien, 
And fhuddering demons call'd the fpe&re Spleen, 
' Hie thee to earth V its mighty mafter cried, 
6 O'er the vex'd globe in heavy vapours ride ! 
Within its centre fix thy fhadowy throne ! 
With fhades thy fubjefts, and that hell thy own ! 
Reign there unfeen ! but let thy ftrong controul 
Be hourly felt in woman's wayward foul ! 
With darkeft poifons from our deep abyfs, 
Taint that pure fource of fubl unary blifs !' 
Th' enormous phantom, at this potent found, 
Roll'd forth obedient from the vaft profound : 
The quaking fiends recover'd from their dread, 
And hell grew lighter as the monfter fled. 
But now round earth the gliding vapours run, 
Blot the rich aether, and eclipfe the fun ; 
All Nature fickens ; and her faireft flower, 
Enchanting Woman, feels the baneful Power t 



1£ THE TRIUMPHS 

As in her foul the clouds of Spleen arife, 
The fprightly effence of her beauty flies : 
In youth's gay prime, in hours with rapture warm. 
Love looks aftoniftVd on her altering form : 
To pleafing frolics, and enchanting wiles, 
Life-darting looks, and foul-fubduing fmiles, 
Dark whims fucceed : thick-coming fancies fret ; 
The fullen paffion, and the hafty pet ; 
The fwelling lip, the tear-diftended eye, 
The peevifh queftion, the perverfe reply ; 
The moody humour, that, like rain and fire, 
Blends cold difguft with unfubdu'd defire, 
Flies what it loves, and, petulantly coy, 
Feigns proud abhorrence of the proffer 'd joy : 
For Nature's artlefs aim, the wifh to pleafe 
By genuine modefty, and ample eafe, 
Fafhion's pert tricks the crowded brain opprefs 
With all the poor parade of tawdry drefs : 
The fickly bofom pants for noife and {how, 
For every bauble, and for every beau ; 



OF TEMPER. I5 



The voice, that health made harmony, difowns 
That native charm for languor's mimic tones : 
And feigns difeafe, till, feeling what it feigns, 
Its fancied maladies are real pain 
Such, and a thoufand ftill fuperior woes, 
From Spleen's new empire o'er the earth arofe : 
Each fimple diftate of the foul forgot, 
Then fir ft was form'd the mercenary plot ; 
And Beauty pra&is'd the pernicious art, 
Of angling flyly for an old man's heart ; 
Tho' crawling to his bride with tottering knees, 
His words were dotage, and his love difeafe. 
From fex to fex this bafe contagion ran, 
And gold grew beauty in the eyes of man : 
Courtfhip was traffic : and the married life 
But one loud jangle of inceffant ftrife. 

The gentle Sprite, who on his radiant car, 
Shines the mild regent of the evening ftar, 
And joys from thence thofe genial rays to fhed, 
That lead the bridegroom to the nuptial bed, 



l6 THE TRIUMPHS 

While earth's new ills his friendly foul abforb. 
From Cynthia call'd me to his kindred orb ; 
And, eager to redrefs the woes of man, 
The brilliant fon of Vefper thus began : 
• Thou fofteft being of th' aetherial kind, 
By thy benignant cares no more confin'd 
To fmooth the ruffled plume of Zephyr's wing, 
To guard from cruel froft the infant fpring, 
To drive grofs atoms from the rays of noon ! 
Or chafe the halo from the vapourifh moon ! 
Thy friendly nature will not now deny 
To quit for nobler toils thy native fky ; 
Thou feeft how Spleen's infernal vapours roll 
Acrofs the fweet ferene of Woman's foul ; 
And earth, which darkens as her beauties fade, 
Muft grow a fecond hell without thy aid : 
Take then thy flation ! fix thy nobler reign 
O'er thofe fine chords that form the female brain. 
That us'd, ere injur'd by the ruft of Spleen, 
To fill with harmony the human fcene ! 



GF TEMPER. 17 



Go ! left her touch their tender tones deftroy, 
Teach them to vibrate to thy notes of joy ! 
Go ! and reftore, by {tilling mental ftrife, 
Health to faint love, and happinefs to life !* 
So fpake that friend of man, who lights above 
His heavenly lamp of Hymeneal love : 
In his juft ainrmy kindred fpirit join'd, 
And flew obedient to the charge aflign'd, 
Hence, as the bias fways th' unconfcious bowl, 
I long unfeen have fway'd the carelefs foul : 
Tho' oft I feel my power by Spleen fubdu'd. 
In the fhrill vixen, and the fullen prude. 
In fome fair forms my foft dominion grows, 
Like fragrance, riling from the opening rofe ; 
Still I preferve in many a lovely face, 
That gay good-humour, and that conftant grace. 
Which heavenly powers united to infold 
In perfect Woman's new-created mould ; 
When Nature, in her infant beauty bleft, 
The laft and lovelieft of her works careft. 



l8 THE TRIUMPHS 

But of thofe nymphs, who, delicately fair, 
Draw foft attractions from my forming care, 
My young Serena {nines her peers above, 
Pride of my hopes, and darling of my love. 
Hence I to thee fuch myfteries unfold, 
As man's pedantic eye fhall ne'er behold ; 
Whofe narrow fcience, tho' it proudly boaft 
To pierce the fky, and count the ftarry hoft, 
Sees not the lucid band of airy powers, 
Who flutter round him in his fecret hours : 
But if to me, thy guardian now difplay'd, 
Thy duteous orifons are juftly paid, 
Thou to thofe realms (halt pafs with me thy guide, 
Where Spleen's pale vi&ims, after death, refide ; 
Then to that orb, in vifion fhalt thou rife, 
(Not feen by mortal aftronomic eyes, 
Not e'en by Herfchel, whofe angelic ken 
Finds a mute ftar, and bids it fpeak to men) 
Where I — but firft let me thy foul prepare 
To meet our fecret foe's infidious fnare ! 



OF TEiMPER* 19 



To live untouch'd by fubtle Spleen requires 

The ceafelefs care of difciplin'd defires. 

9 Tis my fond purpofe in thy form to {how 

The fweeteft model of my fldll below : 

A youth I defline to thy dear embrace, 

Crown'd with each mental charm, and manly grace 5 

With whom thy innocence, fecure from ftrife, 

Shall reap the beauteous joys of blamelefs life. 

Pleas'd I obferve thy little heart begin 

To afk, what charms the mighty prize may win : 

But know, tho' Elegance herfelf be feen 

To guide thy motion, and to form thy mien ; 

Tho' Beauty o'er thy filial cheek diffufe 

The foft enchantment of her rofeate hues, 

Not from their favour (hall this glory rife ! 

Temper fhall fingly gain the fplendid prize : 

The fudden conqueft (hall be mine alone, 

And Love with tranfport fhall my triumph own 5 

Such are my hopes ; but I with pain relate 

What hard conditions are annexed by fate ; 



20 THE TRIUMPHS 



As chemic fires, that patient labour blows, 
Draw the rich perfume from the Perfian rofe e 
So mud thou form, by fiery toils refin'd, 
The living effence of thy fweeter mind. 
Dimly I fee, on Deftiny's dull glafs, 
Three dangerous trials 'tis thy doom to pafs ; 
And, oh ! if once forgetful of my power, 
Good humour fail thee in the fateful hour, 
Farewell thofe joys that wait the happy wife ! 
Farewell the vifion of unclouded life ! 

Fain would my love thy fecret perils fhow, 
Which fate allows not even me to know : 
In Spleen's dark court a thoufand agents dwell, 
Who bind their victim's in the wayward fpell ! 
Perchance three prime fupporters of her fway, 
The bufieft of her fiends may crofs thy way : 
Stern Contradiction, her ill-favour'd child, 
Of fierce demeanor, and of fpirit wild 5 
Bane of delight ! and horror of the fex ! 
His plan to puzzle, and his pride to vex !— 



OF TEMPER. 21 



Or Scandal, filthy hag ! who blindly limps 

Round the wide earth, fupported by her imps, 

Her inky demons, who delight to print 

Her bafe fuggeftion, and her envious hint :— 

Or groundlefs Jealoufy, pert changeling ! born 

Of amorous Vanity, and angry Scorn, 

Whofe bitter taunts with public infult dare 

Bafely to wound the unoffending fair ; 

Proud the fweet joys of innocence to crufh, 

And fpread o'er Beauty's cheek the burning blulh. 

Whether thefe kindred fiends, or one, or all, 

Shall aim thy airy fpirit to enthrall, 

Are points, my fondnefs tries in vain to reach ; 

But truft my caution ! and beware of each ! 

Left to thy lively mind my words may feem. 
The vain chimera of a common dream, 
By one unqueftionable fign be taught 
To prize my prefence in thy waking thought ! 
An azure ribband, on thy toilet thrown, 
Shall make the magic of my empire known : 



22 THE TRIUMPHS 

On this thy fportive needle tried its powers. 

And {ilver fpangles form'd the mimic flowers ; 

On thefe my love fhall breathe a fecret charm ; 

With this, my ceftus, thy foft bofom arm ! 

Above it let the decent tucker rife, 

To hide the myftic band from mortal eyes ! 

When Spleen's dark powers would teach that breafl 

to fwell, 
This guardian cinfture fhall thofe powers repel : 
As the touch'd talifman, more fwift than thought, 
To fave her charge, th' Arabian fairy brought, 
So fhall this zone, if my command ? s obey'd, 
Bring my quick fpirit to thy certain aid. 
In Love's great name obferve this high beheft ! 
Revere my power — Be gentle, and be bleft !' 

Here the kind Sprite her friendly counfel clos'd> 
And lightly vanifiYd — Still Serena doz'd ; 
Still in fweet trance fhe fondly feem'd to hear 
The foft perfuafion vibrate in her ear. 



OF TEMPER. 



2 3 



But waking now Far different notes fhe found ; 
Lefs plealing echoes in her chamber found : 
* For now the heralds of the London day- 
Sing their loud matins in th' uncrowded way ; 
TV impatient milk-maid now, with early din, 
Screams to the rattle of her pail of tin ; 
With fweep's faint cry, and, lateft of the crew, 
The deep-ton'd mufic of the murmuring Jew. 



END OF THE FIRST CANTO. 



C 2 



24 THE TRIUMPHS 



CANTO II. 

JL E radiant nymphs ! whofe opening eyes convey 
Warmth to the world, and luflre to the day ! 
Think what o'erfhadowing clouds may crofs your 

brain. 
Before thofe lovely lids fhall clofe again ! 
What funds of patience twelve long hours may aik, 
When cold Difcretion claims her daily tafk ! 
Ah ! think betimes ! and, while your morning care 
Sheds foreign odours o'er your fragrant hair, 
Tinge your light fpirit with that mental fweet, 
Which may not be exhal'd by paflion's heat ; 
But charm the fenfe with undecaying power, 
Thro' every chance of each diurnal hour ! 
Oh ! might you all perceive your toilets crown'd 
With fuch cofmetics as Serena found ! 
For, to the warning vifion fondly true, 
Now the quick fair-one to the toilet flew : 






OF TEMPER. 



With keen delight her ravifh'd eye furvey'd 
The myftic ribband on her mirror laid : 
Bright fhone the azure as Aurora's car, 
And every fpangle feem'd a living ftar. 
With fportive grace the fmiling damfel preft 
The guardian cincture to her fnowy bread, 
More lovely far than Juno, when Ihe ftrove 
To look moil lovely in the eyes of Jove ; 
And willing Venus lent her every power, 
That fheds enchantment o'er the amorous hour : 
For fpells more potent on this band were thrown, 
Than Venus boafted in her beauteous zone. 
Her dazzling ceftus could alone infpire 
The fudden impulfe of fhort-liv'd defire : 
Thefe liner threads with lading charms are fraught, 
Here lies the tender, but unchanging thought, 
Silence that wins, where eloquence is vain, 
And tones that harmonize the madd'ning brain, 
Soft fighs that anger cannot hear and live, 
And fmiles that tell how truly they forgive ; 



26 THE TRIUMPHS 



And lively grace, whofe gay diffufive light 
Puts the black phantoms of the brain to flight, 
Whofe cheering powers thro' every period laft, 
And make the prefent happy as the paft. 

Such fecret charms this richer zone pofleft, 
Whofe flowers, now fparkling on Serena's breaft, 
Give, tho' unfeen thofe fwelling orbs they bind, 
Smiles to her face, and beauty to her mind : 
For now, obfervant of the Sprite's beheft, 
The nymph conceals them by her upper vefl: : 
Safe lies the fpell, no mortal may defcry, 
Not keen Penelope's all-piercing eye ; 
Who conftant, as the fteps of morn advance, 
Surveys the houfhold with a fearching glance, 
And entering now, with all her ufual care, 
Reviews the chamber of the youthful fair. 
Beneath the pillow, not completely hid, 
The novel lay — fhe faw — fhe feiz'd — fhe chid : 
With rage and glee her glaring eye -balls flafh, 
Ah ! wicked age ! fhe cries, ah ! filthy trafh \ 



OF TEMPER. 27 



From the fir ft page my juft abhorrence fprings ; 
For modern anecdotes are monftrous things : 
Yet will I fee what dangerous poifons lurk, 
To taint thy youth in this licentious work. 
She faid : and rudely from the chamber rufh'd, 
Her pallid cheek with expectation flufh'd, 
With ardent hope her eager fpirit {hook, 
Vain hope ! to banquet on a lufcious book, 
So if a prieft of the Arabian feet, 
In Turkifh hands forbidden wine deteft, 
The facred muffulman, with pious din, 
Arraigns the culprit, and proclaims the fin, 
Curfes with holy zeal th J inflaming juice, 
But curfing takes it for his fecret ufe. 

The gay Serena, with unruffled mind, 
The pleafing novel, thus unread, refign'd. 
The vilion on her foul fuch virtue left, 
She only fmil'd at the provoking theft ; 
The teahng incident fhe deem'd a jeft, 
Nor felt the zone grow tighter on her breaft. 



&8 THE TRIUMPHS 



Now in full charms defcends the nnifh'd fair, 
For now the morning banquet claims her care ; 
Already at the board, with viands pii'd, 
Her fire impatient fits, and chides his tardy child. 
On his imperial lips rude hunger reigns, 
And keener politics ufurp his brains : 
But when her love-infpiring voice he hears, 
When the foft magic of her fmile appears, 
In that glad moment he at once forgets 
His empty ftomach, and the nation's debts : 
He bends to Nature's more divine control, 
And only feels the father in his foul. 
Quick to his hand behold her now prefent 
The Indian liquor of celeflial fcent ! 
Not with more grace the neciar'd cup is given 
By rofe-lipp'd Hebe to the lord of heaven. 
While her fair hands a frefh libation pour, 
Fafhion's loud thunder {hakes the founding door. 
The light Serena to the window fprings, 
On curiohty's amufive wings : 



OF TEMPER. 29 



Her quick eyes fparkle with furprife, to fee 

The glories of a golden vis-a-vis : 

Its glittering tablet gleam'd with mimic pearl, 

And the rich coronet announced an earl. 

The good old knight grew fomewhat proud to hear 

Of this new vifit from the early peer : 

Serena recollects the virion's truth, 

And, fluttering, hopes it is the promis'd youth : 

Penelope from her high chamber peeps ; 

There her unnnifh'd charms {he coyly keeps ; 

With fage referve her modefty abhorr'd 

To {hew her morning face before a lord. 

The peer alights : the well rang'd vaflals bawl 
His founding title thro' the fpacious hall, 
Till in the deep faloon's extremeft bound 
Th' ear-tickling words, " LordFiLLiGREE " refound 
As when great He&or, fetting war apart, 
Advanc'd to parley, with his fpear atwhart, 
The Greeks beheld him with a ftill delight, 
And filent reverence ftopt the rifing fight ; 



So 



THE TRIUMPHS 



With fuch refpeft, but unchaftis'd by fear, 
Sir Gilbert and the nymph firft met the peer ; 
And, while his morning compliments commence, 
The flighted breakfafl ftands in cold fufpenfe. 
But far unlike to Heftor's ruder grace 
His modern flature, and his modifh face ; 
Nor lefs he differs from thofe barons old, 
Whofe arms are blazon'd on his car of gold ; 
Whofe proftrate caflle guarded once the lands, 
Where, fpruce in motley pride, his villa ftands, 
By tafte ere&ed, in her trimmeft mode, 
Her mufhroom ftru&ure, and her quaint abode. 

As the neat daify to the fun's broad flower, 
As the French boudoir to the Gothic tower, 
Such is the peer, whom fafhion much admires, 
Compar'd in perfon to his ancient fires : 
For their broad fhoulder, and their brawny calf, 
Their coarfe, loud language, and their coarfer laugh, 
His finer form, more elegantly flim, 
Difplays the fafhionable length of limb ; 



OF TEMPER. 31 



With foreign fhrugs his country he regards, 
And her lean tongue with foreign words he lards ; 
While Gallic graces, who correct his ftyle, 
Forbid his mirth to pafs beyond a fmile. 
As the nice workman in the wooden trade 
Hides his coarfe ground, with finefh woods o'erlaid, 
Thus our young lord, with fafhion's phrafe refin'd, 
Fineer'd the mean interior of his mind : 
And hence, in courtefy's mild luftre feen, 
His fpirit fhone as graceful as his mien. 
The artlefs fair, on fafhion's kind report, 
Thought him the mirror of a matchlefs court : 
Much flie his drefs, his language much obferves, 
Whofe finer accents prove his feeling nerves. 
Her fancy now the defthVd lover fpies, 
But her free heart abjures the quick furmife ; 
Yet as he fpoke, at every flattering word 
The viiion's promife to her thought recurr'd. 
Far more parental pride contrives to blind 
The good Sir Gilbert's more experienc'd mind 5 



32 THE TRIUMPHS 

Who fondly faw, and at the profpeQ; fmil'd, 
A future countefs in his favourite child. 
But what new flutterings fhook Serena's breaft. 
What hopes and fears the modeft nymph oppreft, 
When with a fimpering fmile, and foft regard, 
The peer difplay'd a mirth-expreflive card, 
Where the gay Graces, in a fportive band, 
Shew the fweet art of Cipriani's hand ; 
Where, in their train, his airy Cupids throng, 
And laughing drag a comic mafk along ! 
" We," cries my lord, with felf-fufficient joy, 
Twirling, with lordly airs, the graceful toy, 
" We, who poflefs true fcience, we, who give 
The world a lefTon in the art to live, 
We for the fair a fplendid fete defign, 
And pay our homage thus at Beauty's fhrine." 
He fpoke ! and fpeaking, to the blufhing maid, 
With modifh eafe, th' inviting card convey'd, 
Where Mirth announc'd her mafque-devoted hour 
In characters intwin'd with many a flower : 



OF TEMPER. 33 



The blufhing maid, with eyes of quick defire, 
View'd it, and felt her little foul on fire ; 
For of all fcenes fhe had not yet furvey'd, 
Her heart moft panted for a mafquerade : 
But her gay hopes increafing terrors drown, 
And dread forebodings of her father's frown. 
In mute fufpenfe to read his thought fhe tries, 
And ftrongly pleads with her prevailing eyes, 
Her eyes, for doubt enchain'd her modeft tongue, 
While on his fovereign word her pleafure hung. 
With fuch a tender and perfuafive air 
Of foft endearment, and of anxious care, 
Thetis attended from th 5 almighty fire 
His fateful anfwer to her fond defire : 
The good old knight, like the Olympian god, 
Bleft the fair fuppliant with his gracious nod ; 
Her lively fpirit the kind fignal took, 
And her glad heart in every fibre fhook. 
The party fettled, it imports not how, 
The peer politely made his parting bow : 



34 THE TRIUMPHS 

The nymph, with eyes that fparklcd joyous fire, 
Kifs'd the round cheek of her complying fire, 
Then fwiftly flew, and fummon'd to her aid 
Th' important counfel of her favourite maid, 
To vent her joy, and as the moments prefs. 
To fix that firft of points, a fancy drefs. 

Quick as the poet's eyes o'er nature fly, 
Piercing the deep, or traverfmg the fky, 
With fuch light fpeed her fond ideas glance 
O'er play and poem, ftory and romance, 
While all the characters fhe e'er has read 
Flafh on her brain, and fill her bufy head. 
Now in Diana's form fhe hopes to meet 
A fond Endymion fighing at her feet ; 
Now her proud thought terreftrial pomp a flumes, 
And Dian's crefcent yields to Indian plumes ; 
Now, in the habit of the Grecian ifles, 
She hears fome Ofmin fuing for her fmiles, 
And fees his foul that blaze of drefs outfhine, 
Whofe wealth impoverifh'd a diamond mine ; 



OF TEMPER. 35 



Now Ampler charms her quick attention draw, 

The rofe-crown'd bonnet, and the hat of ftraw, 

A village maid fhe feems, in neat attire, 

A faithful fhepherd now her fole defire. 

Thus, as new figures in her fancy throng, 

" She's every thing by ftarts, and nothing long f? 

But, in the fpace of one revolving hour, 

Flies thro' all ftates of poverty and power, 

All forms, on whom her veering mind can pitch, 

Sultana, gipfy, goddefs, nymph, and witch. 

At length, her foul with Shakefpeare's magic fraught, 

The wand of Ariel fixt her roving thought ; 

Ariel's light graces all her heart poffefs, 

And Jenny's order'd to prepare the drefs. 

It feems already bought, with fond applaufe ; 

An azure tiflue, and a filver gauze ; 

Too foon, alas ! that garb of heavenly hue 

The ready mercer flafhes to her view. 

Ah, blind to fate ! how oft the youthful belle 

Feels her gay heart at fight of tiffue fwell ! 



3<* 



THE TRIUMPHS 



And thinks the fafhionable filk mud prove 
Her robe of triumph, and a fpell to love ! 
To thee, fweet maid, whofe pleafure-darting eyes 
Joy in this favourite veft, an hour fhall rife, 
When thou fhalt hate the filk fo fondly fought, 
And wifh thy filver-fpotted gauze unbought * : 
For bufy Spleen thy trial now prepares ; 
Darkly fhe forms her unfufpe£led fnares, 
And, keen to raife her pleafure-killing ftorm, 
A flumes Penelope's congenial form. 
In that prim fhape which all the Graces fhun. 
See the four fiend to good Sir Gilbert run ! 
Where deeply pondering the public debt, 
Silent he mufes o'er a new gazette ! 
Ent'ring, fhe view'd, with eyes of envious fpite, 
The card, that fpoke the mafque-devoted night : 

* Nefcia mens hominum fati fortifquc futurx, 
Et fervare modum, rebus fublata fecundis. 
Turno tempus erit, magno cum optaverit emptum 
Inta&um Pallanta, et cum fpolia ifta diemque 
Oderit. j£neid. x. v. 501. & feq. 



OF TEMPER. 37 



Eager fhe darted on the graceful toy, 
And, fiercely pointing to each naked boy, 
u Canfl: thou," fhe cried, in a difcordant fcream, 
That rous'd the politician from his dream, 
While with her voice the echoing chamber rings, 
f* * Say ! canfl: thou fuffer thefe flagitious things ? 
Are thefe devices to thy daughter brought, 
That wake fuch grofs impurity of thought ? 
In vain are all the prudent words I preach, 
The modeft maxims that I ftrive to teach ; 
By foolifh fondnefs of your fenfe beguil'd. 
You ftill indulge and fpoil the flippant child ; 
For me, whatever I fay is deem'd abfurd ; 
She fcorns my fage advice : — but mark my word, 
If to this ball you let the hoyden run, 
Your power is ended, and the girl undone,* 3 
The patriot knight, by interruption vext. 
In his political purfuits perplext, 

Iliad e. v, 872, et feq. 



38 THE TRIUMPHS 

While he with wrath th* intruding Mifchief eyed, 

Stern to the falfe Penelope replied : 

u Go, tearing prude ! ceafe in my ears to vent 

Thy envious pride, and peevifh difcontent ! 

To me of prudence canft thou vainly boaft ? 

Of all my houfehold thou haft plagued me moft > 

The joys thou blameft are thy dear delight, 

By day the vint, and the ball by night : 

And, tho J too old the lover to trepan, 

Thy midnight dream, thy morning thought is man, 

Wert thou lefs clofely to my blood allied, 

Thou fhould'ft, to cure thee of thy canting pride, 

Be fent to figh alone o'er purling brooks, 

Scoft village maids, and croak to croaking rooks/ 

He fpoke, indignant : the fly fiend withdrew, 
Nor inly griev'd ; for well her force fhe knew. 
As Indian females, in a jealous hour, 
Of fecret poifon try the fubtleft power, 
Which furejtho' flow, corrodes th' unconfcious prey 
And ends its triumph on a diflant day : 



OF TEMPER, 39 



Thus the departing fury left behind 

Her venom, latent in Sir Gilbert's mind. 

The hidden mifchief tho' no eye obferves, 

He feels it fretting on his alter'd nerves ; 

But the kind habit of his healthy foul 

Still ftruggled hard againft its bafe control. 

Now Spleen's dark vapours, in his bofom hid, 

Prompt him the promised pleafure to forbid ; 

Now Love's foft pleadings that dire thought deftroy, 

And fave the bloffom of his daughter's joy ; 

Her envious aunt now ferves him for a jeft, 

And gay good-humour reaffumes his breaft. 

While Spleen's dark power now finks, and now 
revives, 
At length the day, th' important day arrives, 
Which in his bread muft end the clofe debate, 
And fix the colour of Serena's fate. 

Now comes the hour, when the convivial knight 
Waits to begin the dinner's cheerful rite : 
His fond heart ever with a father's pride, 
Joys to behold his darling at his fide ; 



40 THE TRIUMPHS 

But mofl the abfence of her fmile he feels 

In the gay feafon of his focial meals : 

Hence, while for her the rich repaft attends, 

His hafty furnmons to the nymph he fends : 

The happy nymph fuperior cares induce 

To rifk his anger by a rafh excufe : 

She craves his pardon ; but, for time diftreft, 

She ftill is bufy on her magic veft ; 

To range her diamonds in a fparkling zone 

She begs to fnatch her fcanty meal alone. 

The knight in fullen flate begins to dine : 
Spleen, like a harpy, flutters o'er his wine : 
Invifible fhe poifons every difh, 
Tinging with gall his mutton, fowl, and fifh. 
The more he eats, the more perverfe he grows ; 
For as his anger funk, his choler rofe. 
The cloth remov'd, he cries, with vapour fick, 
The pears are mellow, and the port is thick ; 
Tho' nicer fruit Pomona never knew, 
And his rich wine furpafs'd the ruby's hue ! 



OF TEMPER. /]! 



A thoufand times his dizzy brain revolves 
A flern command : now doubts and now refolves 
To bid the nymph defcend, and difarray'd, 
Quit her dear project of the mafquerade : 
As oft kind nature to his heart recurr'd, 
And love parental ftopt the cruel word. 

Meantime, unconfcious of the brooding ftorm, 
The nymph exults in her improving form : 
Gay is her fmile, as thofe the queen of love 
Darts on the Graces in her court above, 
While they contrive, with love-infpiring cares, 
New modes of beauty for the robe fhe wears. 
At length, each duty of the toilet paft, 
TPie glance of triumph on the mirror caft, 
Now the light wand our hnifh'd Ariel arms ; 
Glad Jenny glories in her lady's charms ; 
And gives full utterance, as fhe fmooths her veft ? 
To the fweet bodings of Serena's breaft. 

Oh ! lovely bias of the female foul !. 
Which trembling points to pleafure's diflant pole ; 



42 THE TRIUMPHS 



i 



Which with fond trufl on flattering hope relies, 
O'erleaps all perils that in profpeft rife, 
And fpringing to the goal anticipates the prize ! 
Such was Serena's fear-difcarding ftate; 
Her eye beheld not the dark frowns of fate : 
She only faw, the combat all forgot, 
The triumph promised as her glorious lot- 
Now, eager to difplay her light attire, 
The fprightly damfel feeks her fullen fire ; 
His gloomy brow with fportive air fhe kift ; 
Ah ! how could Spleen that magic lip refifl ? 
That voice, whofe melting mufic might affuage 
The fcorpion Anger's felf-tormenting rage ? 
For ne'er did Nature to a fire's embrace 
Prefent a filial form of fofter grace ; 
Or Fancy view a fhape of lovelier kind 
In the bright mirror of her Shakefpeare's mind. 

The fulky fiend, in fpite of all her art, 
Had now been banifh'd from the father's heart, 
But that, refolv'd her utmofl force to try. 
She fummon'd to her aid her old ally, 



■^■y^- 




S&Hkait J,l , 



SatFijCvty: 



Tuttyhcd July.i^j 7 38. ty T. Cddett , Stxtnd . 



or temper^ 43 

The fiery demon, temper-troubling Gout, 
Who finks the lively, and appals the ftout ; 
Who now, aflifting Spleen's malignant aim, 
Shoots in quick throbbings thro' Sir Gilbert's 

frame. 
Thus forely pefter'd by a double foe, 
Galling his giddy brain, and burning toe. 
The tefly knight, with ftern and fullen air, 
Denounced his humour to the fhuddering fair : 
€: Go change your drefs ! give up this vain delight ! 
I will not hear of mafquerades to-night : 
I muft recall my word, too fondly meant, 
So change your drefs, and fit with me content." 

As the proud dame, whofe avaricious glee 
Built golden caftles in the rich South Sea, 
Gaz'd on her broker, when he told her firft 
Her wealth was vaniftVd, and the bubble burft : 
So gaz'd the nymph, hearing her fire deflroy 
Her airy palace of ideal joy. 

Firft her fond thoughts to flattering doubt incline. 
And deem the harfh command no fix'd defigru 



44 T Hfi TRIUMPHS W 

But the quick fally of a peevifh word, 
That love revokes the moment it is heard : 
Or haply mirth, in mimic wrath expreft, 
A feign'd forbiddance utter d but in jeft : 
To this fhort hope her finking fpirit clung, 
To fee his foftening eyes refute his tongue. 
Ah, fruitlefs hope ! for there fhe cannot find 
The well-known fignals of the friendly mind, 
Stern contradiction, with the frown of fate, 
On his dark vifage reign'd in fullen ftate ; 
Felt in each feature, in each accent fhown, 
Lower'd in his look, and thunder'd in his tone. 
Hence the warm bofom of the lively Fair 
Now Olivers with the chill of blank defpair : 
Now difappointment's thick : ning fhadows roll 
A cloud of horror o'er the darkened foul ; 
And fancy, in a fick delirium toft, 
Gives double value to each pleafure loft* 
The blafted joys fhe labours to forget, 
Ruih on her mind, and waken keen regret ; 



or temper. 45 



Her cheek turns pale — the tear prepares to ftart, 
And palpitation heaves her fwelling heart. 
But here, Sophrosyne ! thy guardian aid 
Saves froiu her potent foe the finking maid* 
Her bofom, into ftrong emotions thrown, 
Now feels the preffure of thy friendly zone. 
Swift thy kind cautions to her foul recur, 
More quick to cancel faults than prone to err. 
As the rough fwell of the infurgent tides 
By the mild impulfe of the moon fub fides, 
So, by her myftic monitor rep reft, 
The flood of paflion leaves her lighten'd breaft ; 
From her clear brain each cloudy vapour flies, 
And joy's bright ray rekindles in her eyes. 
Reviving gaiety full luftre fpread 
O'er all her features, and with fmiles fhe faid, 
€t Let others drive to pleafure's diftant dome ! 
Be mine the dearer joy to pleafe at home !" 
Scarce had fhe fpoke, when fhe with fportive eafe 
Preft her piano-forte's fav'rite keys. 



46 THE TRIUMPHS 



O'er fofteft notes her rapid fingers ran, 
Sweet prelude to the Air £he thus began ; 

Sop hro syne ! thou guard unfeen ! 

Whofe delicate control 
Can turn the difcord of chagrin 

To harmony of foul ! 
Above the lyre, the lute above, 

Be mine thy melting tone, 
Which makes the peace of all we love 

The bans of our own ! 

So fung the nymph, not uninfpir'd : the fprite 
Invok'd fo fondly in the myftic rite, 
With richeft mufic fwell'd her warbling throat, 
And gave new fweetnefs to her fweeteft note. 
As when the feraph Uriel firft begun 
His carol to the new-created fun, 
The facred echo fhook the vaft profound, 
And chaos perifh'd at the potent found 1 



OF TEMPER. 47 



So, at the magic of Serena's drain, 
Spleen vaniuVd from her fire's chaotic brain ; 
Whole fibres, lightened of that load, rejoice 
In the dear accents of her dulcet voice. 
Much he inclines his mandate to recall, 
And fend the fair-one to the promised ball ; 
But ftubborn pride forbids him to revoke 
The folemn fentence which ill humour fpoke. 
Still confcious of her power, the nymph prolongs 
The foft enchantment of her foothing fongs ; 
Which his fond mind in firm attention keep, 
To his fixt hour of fupper and of fleep : 
This now arriv'd, the knight, retiring, fried 
A double blefling on his darling's head ; 
And with unufual exultation preft 
His lovely child to his parental breaft. 

Thus while to reft the happy fire withdrew, 
The nymph, more happy, to her chamber flew ; 
And, Jenny now difmifs'd, the grateful fair 
Breathes to her guardian Sprite this tender prayer : 



4^ THE TRIUMPHS 



". Thou kind preferver ! whofe attentive zeal 
Gives me in this contented hour to feel 
That deareft pleafure of a foul refin'd, 
The triumph of the felf-correfted mind ; 
If happy in the ftrength thy fmiles impart, 
I own thy favour in no thanklefs heart, 
Still let me view thy form, fo juftly dear ! 
Still in kind vifions to thefe eyes appear ! 
Thy friendly dictates teach me to fulfil ! 
And let thy aid avert each future ill !'* 

While fond devotion taught her thus to fpeak, 
The foft down finks beneath her lovely cheek, 
And fettling on her lips, that fweetly clofe, 
Silence, enamour 'd, lulls her to repofe. 



END OF THE SECOND CANTO, 



OF TEMPER. 49 



CANTO III. 

JL E kind tranfporters of th' excurfi ve foul ! 
Ye vifions ! that when night enwraps the pole, 
The lively wanderer to new worlds convey, 
Efcaping from her heavy houfe of clay, 
How could the gentle fpirit, foe to ilrife, 
Bear without you this coil of waking life ? 
Its grief-embitter'd cares, its joylefs mirth, 
And all the flat realities of earth ? 
Sweet phantoms ! you the glowing hope infpire, 
You give to beauty charms, to fancy fire, 
When, foaring like the eagle's kindred frame, 
The poet dreams of everlafting fame ; 
Or, tickled by the feather of the dove, 
The fofter virgin dreams of endlefs love. 



5© THE TRIUMPHS 



There was a time, when fortune's bright decrees 

Were feen to realize fuch dreams as thefe : 

Now dangerous viiions the fond mind decoy 

Vainly to pant for unexifting joy, 

While belles and bards with mournful fighs exclaim^ 

Mortality has feiz'd both Love and Fame. 

Ah, fair Serena ! might the boaft be ours 
To clear from fuch a charge thefe heavenly powers ! 
Bleft ! might thy bard deferve in Fame to fee 
A guard as faithful as Love proves to thee ! 
Bleft I if that airy being gild his life, 
Who fav'd thee trembling on the brink of ftrife, 
And now, kind prompter of thy nightly dream, 
Fill'd thy rapt fpirit with her facred beam ! 
For foon as number fet thy foul at large, 
Thy guardian power revifited her charge ; 
And, lightly hovering o'er th' illumin'd bed, 
Thus with fond fmiles of approbation faid : 
" Well haft thou paft, fweet maid ! one trying fcene. 
One fiery ordeal of the tyrant Spleen : 



OF TEMPER. 5 1 



Thus, my Serena, may thy force fuftain 

Each harder trial that may yet remain ! 

Againft the fiend to fortify thy foul, 

By ufeful knowledge of her dark control, 

I come to (hew thee what no mortal eye, 

Save thine, was e'er permitted to defcry ; 

The realms, where Spleen's infernal agents goad 

The ghoftly tenants of her drear abode. 

Now fummon all thy ftrength ! throw fear afide. 

And firmly truft in thy aetherial guide ! M 

She fpoke : and thro' the night's furrounding 
fhade 
Th' obedient nymph, not unappall'd, convey'd ; 
Thro' long, long trafts of darknefs, on they paft 
With fpeed, that ftruck the trembling maid aghaft, 
Till now, recovering by degrees, fhe found 
Her firm foot prefs upon the folid ground. 
Encourag'd by her guide, at length fhe tries 
1 To fearch the gloomy fcene with anxious eyes. 



5^ THE TRIUMPHS 



* " Thro' me ye pafs to Spleen'.s terrific dome, 
Thro' me, to Difcontent's eternal home : 
Thro' me, to thofe who fadden'd human life, 
By fullen humour, or vexatious ftrife ; 
And here, thro' fcenes of endlefs vapours hurl'd, 
Are punifh'd in the forms they plagued the world ; 
Juftly they feel no joy who none beftow, 
All ye who enter, every hope forego \ 3 ' 
O'er an arch'd cavern, rough with horrid itone, 
On which a feeble light by flafhes fhone, 
Thefe characters, that chill 'd her foul with dread, 
Serena, fixt in filent wonder, read. 
As {he began to fpeak, her voice was drown'd 
By the fhrill echo of far other found ; 

* Per me fi va nella citta dolente, 
Per me fi va nelL* eterno dolore, 
Per me fi va tra la perduta gente, 
********** 
Lafciate ogni fperanza, voi ch' intrate. 
Querie parole di colore ofcuro 

Vid' io fcritte A fommo d' una porta. 

Dante, Inferno. 3. 



OF TEMPER. 53 



Forth from the portal lamentable cries 

Of wailing infants, without number, rife* 

Compaflion to this poor and piteous flock 

Led the kind nymph ftill nearer to the rock. 

The pining band within fhe now efpied. 

And, touch'd with tender indignation, cried, 

<c How could thefe little forms, of life fo brief, 

Deferve this dire abode of lafting grief?" 

w — Well may thy gentle heart be fore concern'd 

At nght fo moving," the mild Sprite return'd : 

" Thou feefi: in thofe, whofe wailings wound thy 

ears, 
The puny progeny of modern peers : 
Their fires, by avarice or ambition led, 
Aliens to love, approach'd the nuptial bed ; 
With proud indifference, and with cold diftafte, 
Their homely brides relu&antly embrac'd, 
And by fuch union gave difaflrous birth 
To thefe poor pale incumbrances of earth, 



54 THE TRIUMPHS 

Who, bred in vanity, with pride their dower, 
Were Spleen's fure victims from their natal hour, 
And in their fplendid cradles puPd and pin'd, 
Till Fate their ill-fpun thread of life untwin'd, 
And to this veflibule convey'd their ghofts, 
To form the vanguard of th' infernal hofts. 
But let not pity's ineffectual charm 
Impede thy progrefs, or thy flrength difarm ! 
Follow and fear not ! guarded by my care 
From all the phantoms that around thee glare." 

She fpoke : and enter'd, ere the nymph replied. 
A pafs, that opened in the cavern's fide, 
Low, dark, and rocky — with her body bent, 
Serena follow'd down the dire defcent. 
A ludden light foon firuck her dazzled view ; 
But 'twas a light of fuch infernal hue, 
As double horror to the darknefs gave, 
With dread reflection from a dufky wave. 
Round a black water tatter'd fpe&res fland, 
With each a tiny taper in its hand ; 



OF TEMPER. $5 



Fierce mendicants ! who ftrive fome alms to win 
From the fair flranger, with inceffant din. 
The guardian Spirit faw Serena grieve, 
To hear of wants fhe knew not to relieve ; 
And to the generous nymph in pity cries : 
f The gulf of Indolence before us lies, 
O'er whofe dull flood, to which no bank is feen, 
A boat muft waft thee to the dome of Spleen. 
Thefe pallid figures that around thee prefs, 
And haunt thee with importunate diftrefs, 
On earth were beggars of each different clafs, 
Tho* blended here in one promifcuous mafs, 
The poor, who fpurn'd kind Induflry's control, 
The rich, who begg'd from penury of foul : 
Both by their abject pride alike debas'd, 
Blafphem'd that nature which they both difgrac'd, 
\nd, hither by the fullen fiend conveyed, 
| Sere ftill they ply their ineffectual trade ; 
.n chafe of each new pailenger they run, 
3ondemn'd to beg from all, to gain by none. 



56 THE TRIUMPHS 

But from thefe wretches turn thy fruitlefs care,. 

Behold the gulf before thee, and beware 

Nor touch the ftream, which mortal fenfe o'er come 

And by its baleful charm the foul benumbs !" 

« -—Can mortal pafs !" the (hudd'ring nymph ^ 

replied, 

* ( This fullen, flow, unnavigable tide, 
In whofe black current this enormous mound 
Of fhapelefs flone appears, this horrid bound, * 

That feems an everlafling guard to keep 
O'er the dull waters that beneath it creep ?" 

While yet fhe fpoke, with a refounding (hock 3 
Forth from the arch of the impending rock, 
Which o'er the murmuring eddy hung fo low. 
The lazy river fcarce had room to flow, 
Of rude conftru&ion, and in roughed plight, 
A boat now iflVd to Serena's fight; 
An empty boat, that (lowly to the (hore 
Advanc'd, without the aid of fail or oar ; ft 



OF TEMPER. 57 



Self-mov'd it feem'd, but foon the nymph beheld 
A grifly figure, who the ftern impell'd. 
Wading behind, the horrid form appear'd ; 
^bove the water his ftrong arm he reared, 
And crofs the creeping flood the crazy veflel fteer'd. . 
The heavenly Sprite obferv'd her trembling ward, 
Whofe growing fears the hideous pafs abhorr'd, 
And cheering thus fhe fpake : " This fpeftre boafts 
The chief dominion of thefe dreary coafts : 
To him, thy pilot, without dread, confign 
\nd place thy body in his bark fupine ! 
>o thro' this arching rock thou 'It pafs alone, 

>afe from the perils of th J incumbent ftone : 
Zmbark undaunted ! — on the farther fide 
Thou 'It furely find me, thy unfailing guide. 

^or let this pilot raife thy groundlefs dread, 
This fullen Charon of the froward dead, 

\. phantom, never blefl with human life, 

Tho'^oft on earth his noxious power is rife ; 



-»- 



5^ THE TRIUMPHS 

And in that region, ne'er from error free, 
The words he dictates are afngn'd to me. 
Obferve this fiend, that Nature fcorn'd to frame, 
Offspring of Pride, and Apathy his name ! 
Paflions he ne'er can feel, and ne'er impart, 
A mif-created imp, without a heart ; 
In place of which his fubtle parent pinn'd 
A bladder, fill'd with circulating wind, 
Which feems with mimic life the mafs to warm. 
And gives falfe vigour to his bloated form. 
But place thee in the boat his arms direcr., 
My love fhall watch thee, and my power protect.. ' 
So fpake the friendly Sprite ; th' obedient maid 
Her form along the narrow veffel laid : 
But oh ! what terrors fhake her tender foul, 
As from the fliore the bark begins to roll, 
And, fever d from her friend, her eyes difcern 
The (leering fpeftre wading at the flern ! 
Far flronger fears her refolution melt, 
Than thofe, which erft the bard of Florence felt, 



OF TEMPER. 59 



When, by the honoured (hade of Virgil led 
Thro' all the dreary circles of the dead, 
Hell's fierceft demons threaten'd to divide 
The living poet from his fhadowy guide ; 
And bade him, friendlefs, and alone, return, 
Thro' the dire horrors of the dark fojourn. 
Not long the lovely fair-one's terrors la ft ; 
For fafely thro' th' impending rock ihe paft : 
And flow advancing to the gloomy ftrand, 
The fullen pilot brings her fafe to land. 
There, fondly hovering on her guardian plumes^ 
The heavenly Monitor her charge refumes ; 
And fmiling, leads along the rocky road, 
Whofe windings open into Spleen's abode. 

Thou queen of {hades ! whofe fpirit-damping fpeii 
Too oft is feen the poet's pride to quell, 
May I unpuniih'd by thy fub tie power, 
Dare to difplay thy fubterranean bower, 
And to this wond'ring upper world explain 
The fhadowy horrors of thy fecret reign ? 



60 THE TRIUMPHS 

Entering beneath a wide fantaftic arch, 
Round the drear circuit of the dome they march ; 
Which a pale flafh from many a fiery fprite 
Frequent illumes with intermitting light ; 
Such as on earth, to Superftition's eye, 
Denounces ruin from the northern fky, 
While {he difcerns, amid the nightly glare, 
Armies embattled in the blazing air. 

Around the nymph unnumber'd phantoms glide : 
Here fwell the bloated race of bulky Pride : 
In clofe and horrid union, there appear 
The wilder progeny of frantic Fear ; 
Mif-fhapen monfters ! whofe ftupendous frame 
Abhorrent Nature has refused to name. 
Here, in cameleon colours, lightly flit 
The motley offspring of diforder'd Wit. 
All things prodigious the wide cave contained, 
And forms, beyond what fable ever feign'd : 
But, as the worm, that on the dewy green 
Springs half to view, and half remains unfeen, 



OF TEMPER. 



Perceiving near its cell a human tread, 
Slinks back to earth, and hides its timid head : 
So, where the heavenly Spirit deign'd to lead, 
The ftartled fpeftres from her ftep recede ; 
And, as abafh'd they from her eye retire, 
Sink into mift, or melt in fluid fire. 
High on an ebon throne, fuperbly wrought 
With each fierce figure of fantaflic thought, 
In a deep cove, where no bright beam intrudes. 
O'er her black fchemes the fullen emprefs broods. 
The fcreech-owl's mingled with the raven's plume 
Shed o'er her furrow 'd brows an awful gloom ; 
A garb, that glares with ftripes of lurid flame, 
Wraps in terrific pomp her haggard frame ; 
Round her a ferpent, as her zone, is roll'd, 
Which, writhing, flings itfelf in every fold. 

Near her pavilion, in barbaric ftate, 
Four mutes the mandates of their queen await, 
From fickly Fancy bred, by fullen Sloth, 
Both parents' curfe, yet pamper'd ftill by both, 



62 THE TRIUMPHS 



Firft ftands Difeafe ; an hag of magic power, 
Varying her frightful vifage every hour, 
Her horrors heightening as thofe changes laft 3 
And each new form more hideous than the part. 
Detraction next, a fhapelefs fiend, appears, 
Whofe fhrivell'd hand a mifly mirror rears ; 
Fram'd by malignant Art, th' infernal toy 
Inverts the lovely mien of imiling Joy, 
Robs rofeate Beauty of attractive grace, 
And gives a flep-dame's frown to Nature's face. 
The third in place, but with a fiercer air, 
See the true Gorgon, Difappointment, glare ! 
By whofe petrific power Delight 's o'erthrown ; 
And Hope's warm heart becomes an icy flone. 
Laft, in a gorgeous robe, that, ill beftow'd, 
Bows her mean body by its cumbrous load, 
Stands fretful Difcontent, of fiends the word, 
By dignity debas'd, by bleflings curfl, 
Who poifons Pleafure with the foureft leaven. 
And makes a hell of Love's ecftatic heaven. 



OF TEMPER. 63 



The guide celeftial, near this ghaftly group, 
Perceiv'd her tender charge with terror droop : 
" Fear not, fweet maid }-" fhe cries, " my fteps purfue, 
Nor gaze too long on this infernal crew ! 
Turn from Detraction's fafcinating glafs I 
In filence crofs the throne ! obferve, and pafs ! 
Beyond this dome, the palace of the queen, 
Her empire winds thro 5 many a dreary fcene, 
Where fhe torments, as their deferts require, 
Her various victims that on earth expire ; 
Each clafs apart : for in a different cell 
The fierce, the fretful, and the fullen dwell : 
Thefe fhalt thou ilightly view, in vapours hurl'd. 
And fwiftly then regain thy native world. 
But firft remark, within that ample niche, 
With every quaint device of fplendor rich, 
Yon phantom, who, from vulgar eyes withdrawn 3 
Appears to flretch in one eternal yawn : 
Of empire here he holds the tottering helm, 
Prime minifter in Spleen's difcordant realm, 



64 THE TRIUMPHS 

The pillar of her fpreading ftate, and more, 
Her darling offspring, whom on earth fhe bore ; 
For, as on earth his wayward mother firay'd, 
Grandeur, with eyes of fire, her form furvey'd. 
And with ftrong paflion ftarting from his throne, 
Unloos'd the fullen queen's relu&ant zone. 
From his embrace, conceiv'd in moody joy, 
Rofe the round image of a bloated boy : 
His nurfe was Indolence ; his tutor Pomp, 
Who kept the child from every childifh romp ; 
They rear'd their nurlling to the bulk you fee, 
And his proud parent call'd their imp Ennui. 
This realm he rules, and in fuperb attire 
Vifits each earthly palace of his fire : 
A thoufand fhapes he wears, now pert, now prim, 
Purfues each grave conceit, or idle whim ; 
In arms, in arts, in government engages, 
With monarchs, poets, politicians, fages ; 
But drops each work the moment it 's begun, 
And, trying all things can accomplifh none : 



OF TEMPER. 65 



Yet o'er each rank, and age, and fex, his fway 
Spreads undifcern'd, and makes the world his prey. 
The light coquet, amid flirtation, fighs, 
To find him lurk in Pleafure's vain difguife ; 
And the grave nun difcovers, in her cell, 
That holy water but augments his fpell. 
As the ftrange monfter of the ferpent breed, 
That haunts, as travellers tell, the marfhy mead, 
Devours each nobler beaft, tho* firmly grown 
To fize and ftrength fuperior to his own ;— 
For on the grazing horfe, or larger bull, 
Subtly he fp rings, of dark faliva full, 
With fwiftly-darting tongue his prey anoints 
With venom, potent to diffolve its joints, 
And, while its bulk in liquid poifon fwims, 
Swallows its melting bone and fluid limbs :— 
So this Ennui, this wonder-working elf, 
Can vanquifh powers far mightier than himfelf ; 
Nor Wit nor Science foar his reach abo^e, 
And oft he feizes on fuccefs£ul Love, 



66 THE TRIUMPHS 



Of all the radiant hoft who lent their aid 
To light mankind thro' life's bewildering fhade, 
Bright Charity alone with cloudlefs ray, 
May boaft exemption from his baleful fway : 
Hafte then, fweet nymph ! nor let us longer roam 
Round the drear circle of this dangerous dome ! 
Left e'en thy guide entangled in his fpell, 
Should fail to guard thee from a fiend fo fell !" 

So fpeaking, the kind Spirit's anxious care 
Led from the palace the attentive fair, 
And winding thro' a paffage dark and rude, 
Thus the mild monitor her fpeech renew'd : 
" 'Gainft fear and pity now thy bofom fteel, 
For fights more horrible I now reveal ! 
Spleen's tortur'd victims view with dauntlefs eyes ; 
For lo ! her penal realms before thee rife !" 
The nymph advancing faw, with mute amaze, 
A difmal, deep, enormous dungeon blaze. 
Stones of red fire the hideous wall compos'd ; 
And maflive gates the horrid confine clos'd. 



OF TEMPER, 67 



Th' infernal portrefs of this doleful dome, 

With fiery lips that fwell'd with poifonous foam, 

Pale Difcord, rag'd ; with whofe tormenting tongue. 

Thro' all its caves th' extenfive region rung : 

A living vulture was the fury's creft ; 

And in her hand a rattlefnake fhe preft, 

Whofe angry joints inceffantly were heard 

To found defiance to the fcreaming bird. 

" The boundlefs depth of this dire prifon holds 
The untam'd fpirits of imperious fcolds : 
Nor think that females only fill the cave ! 
Male termagants have liv'd, and here they rave. 
Polemics, who of peace with rancour preach, 
And violate themfelves the law they teach. 
All of each fex are pent within this pale, 
Who knew no ufe of language but to rail." 
Thus to her charge exclaim'd the heavenly guide. 
And, as fhe fpoke, the portals opened wide, 
And to th' obfervance of the fhuddering maid, 
Th' immeafurable den was all difplay'd. 



68 



THE TRIUMPHS 



But oh ! what various noifes from within 
Fill the vext air with one ftupendous din ! 
Mourning's deep groan, and Anger's furious call, 
Terror's loud cry, and Affe&ation's fquall, 
The fob of Paffion, the hy fieri e fcream, 
And fhrieks of Frenzy, in its fierce extreme ! 
In this wild uproar every found 's combin'd, 
That ftuns the fenfes, and diftra&s the mind. 
M Mark" (to the nymph Sophrosyne began) 
" The fierce Xantippe flaming in the van, 
The vafe fhe emptied on the fage's head, 
Hangs o'er her own, a different fhower to {bed ; 
For, drop by drop, difhilling liquid fire, 
It fills the vixen with new tropes of ire. 

Beyond the Grecian dame extend your view, 
And mark the fpe&re of a modern fhrew ! 
She, who whene'er fhe din'd, with furious look,' 
Spurn'd her nice food, and bellow'd at her cook, 
Here juftly feels a culinary rack, 
Bound like Ixion to a whirling jack." 



OF TEMPER. 69 



Serena gaz'd, but foon fhe turn'd away, 
Mute with difguft, and fhuddering with difmay. 
" To fcenes lefs hideous let us now repair !" 
(Said the kind guard of the deje&ed fair) 
And, cheering her faint charge, her flep fhe led 
To the near dwelling of the fretful dead. 
Of dufky adamant the dungeon rofe ; 
A dingy mirror its dark fides compofe, 
Reflecting, with a thoufand quaint grimaces, 
The pale inhabitants' diftorted faces, 
" Here, like a dame of quality array 'd, 
Sits Peevifhnefs, prefiding o'er the fhade, 
And frowning at her own uncomely mien, 
Whofe coarfe reflection on the wall is feen. 
A fnarling lap-dog her right-hand reftrains, 
Her lap an infant porcupine contains, 
Which, while her fondnefs tries its wrath to ftill, 
* Wounds her each moment with a pointed quill. 
The froward fpirits here in durance fret, 
Whofe tefty life was one continued pet ; 



THE TRIUMPHS 



Here they in trifles that vexation find, 
Which teas'd on earth their irritated mind. 
Obferve the phantom, who with eyes afkance 
Still to the mirror turns her eager glance ! 
See ! to her cheek, inceffant as fhe turns, 
Her vex'd blood ruflies, and her vifage burns 
Beauty for lafting blifs had form'd the maid ; 
Love to her charms his faithful homage paid ; 
But, all this fwelling tide of joy to check, 
A fatal freckle rifes on her neck : 
Her foft cofmetics the griev'd nymph applies, 
Succefs attends her, and the freckle dies : 
But ah ! this victory avails her not ; 
She finds an hydra in the teazing fpot : 
Fall as one flies, another ftill fucceeds, 
And with eternal food her fretful humour feeds. 

Near to the nymph, in a more moody fit, 
See the pale phantom of a peevifh wit ! 
Mark with what frowns his eager eyes perufe, 
Wet from the prefs, three Critical Reviews ! 



OF TEMPER. 71 



With wounded vanity's diffracting rage 
How rapidly he runs thro' every page ! 
He finds fome honours lavinVd*on his verfe, 
And joy's faint gleams his gloomy fpirit pierce* 
But oh ! too foon thefe feeble fparks decay ; 
And keen vexation re-affumes her prey. 
Hating reproof, in every fibre fore, 
One cenfur'd particle torments him more^ 
More than a hundred happier lines delight, 
Which liberal favour condefcends to cite. 

But time will fail us^ if we paufe to view 
The various torments of the tefly crew ; 
Thofe wretched chemifls, whofe o'erheated brain 
Extracts from nothing a fubftantial pain. 
Yet, ere to different diftri&s we advance, 
Take of one fretful tribe a tranfient glance ! 
Their unfufpe&ed punifhments fupply 
A leffon, ufeful to the female eye. 
Spleen's livelieft agent here beguiles the gay, 
Fair to attract, and flattering to betray." 
f 2 



72 THE TRIUMPHS 

As thus the kind aetherial guardian fpoke, 

Within a rock, whence plaintive murmurs broke, 

She touch'd a fecret fpring, whofe power was fuch ; 

Two jarring doors- unfolded at the touch, 

And, with the charms of regal fplendor bright, 

A cheerful banquet fparkles to the fight. 

Viands fo light, fo elegantly grac'd, 

Might tempt e'en Temperance herfelf to tafte ; 

For fruits alone compos'd th' enticing treat, 

Fair to the eye, and to the palate fweet. 

In fuch bright juice the peach and cherry fwim. 

As make the topaz and the ruby dim. 

Here crown'd with every flower, and gaily drefl 

In all the glitter of a Gallic veft, 

Whofe ample folds her loathfome body fcreen'd, 

A child of luxury reigns, a fubtle fiend ! 

Who with a grace that every heart allures, 

Smiles on the luflre of her rich liqueurs. 

Her fatal fmiles their utmoft power exert 

To poifon beauty at her dire deflert ; 



OF TEMPER. )§ 



To blaft the rofe that health's bright cheek adorns, 
And fill each feftive heart with latent thorns : 
For the fly fiend, of every heart poffeft, 
Steals on th' affection of her female gueft ; 
And, by her foft addrefs feducing each, 
Eager fhe plies them with a brandy peach : 
They with keen lip the lufcious fruit devour ; 
But fwiftly feel its peace-deftroying power. 
Quick thro' each vein new tides of frenzy roll : 
All evil paflions kindle in the foul, 
Drive from each feature every cheerful grace, 
And glare ferocious in the fallow face ; 
The wounded nerves in furious conflict tear, 
Then fink, in blank dejection and defpair. 
Effects more dire, thus tempting to deceive, 
The apple wrought not in the foul of Eve ; 
Howe'er difguis'd, in jelly or in jam, 
Spleen has no poifon furer than a dram, 

" But haftewe now," (the heavenly leader cries) 
w To where this penal world's laft wonder lies ! ,s 



74 THE TRIUMPHS 



She fpoke ; and led the nymph thro' deeper dells, 
Low murmuring vaults, and horror-breathing cells, 
And now they pafs a perforated cage, 
Where rancorous fpeftres without number rage. 
" Avert thine eye!" (the heavenly fpirit faid) 
" Nor view thefe abje£t, tribes of envious dead ! 
Who pin'd to hear the voice of truth proclaim 
A fitter's beauty, or a brother's fame ! 
Tho 5 crown'd with all profperity imparts, 
High in their various ranks, and feveral arts ; 
Yet, meanly funk by envy's bafe control ; 
They died in that confumption of the foul ; 
And here, thro' bars that twilled adders make, 
And the long volumes of th* envenom'd fnake. 
O'er this dark road they dart an anxious eye, 
Still envying every fiend that flutters by. 
Pafs ! and regard them not !" — Th' attentive maid 
In filent tremor the beheft obey'd. 

This dungeon croft, her weary feet fhe drags 
Thro* winding caverns, and o'er icy crags : 



or temper. 75 



Soul-chilling damps in the dark paffage reign, 
Which iffues on a vaft and dreary plain, 
Fann'd by no breezes, with no verdure crown'd ; 
The black horizon is its only bound. 
And now advancing, in a drizzly mift, 
Thro' fullen phantoms, hating to exift, 
Serena fpies, high o'er his fubje&s plac'd. 
The ghaftly tyrant of the gloomy wafte. 
Murmuring he fits upon a rocking ftone, 
Th' unliable bafe of his ill-founded throne : 
Hideous his face, and horrible his frame, 
Mifanthropy the grifly monfter's name ! 
Him to fierce Pride, with raging paffion fore. 
The frowning gorgon, Difappointment, bore ; 
On earth detefted, and by heaven abhorr'd, 
Of this drear wild he reigns the moody lord. 
Few are the fubje&s of his wafte domain, 
And fcarce a female in his frightful train, 
Except one changing corps of ancient prudes ; 
Relu&ant here the prying band intrudes. 



*]6 THE TRIUMPHS 

Each, who on earth, behind her artful fan, 
Feign'd coarfe averfion to the creature man, 
Is doom'd, in this dark region to abide 
Some tranfient pains for hypocritic pride. 
Here ever-during chains thofe fcoffers bind, 
Whofe writings deaden and debafe the mind ; 
Who mock creation with injurious fcorn, 
And feel a fancied void in plenty's horn. 

In his right hand, an emblem of his cares, 
A branch of aconite the monarch bears ; 
And thofe four phantoms, who this region haunt, 
He feeds with berries from this deadly plant ; 
For, ftrange to tell ! tho' fever 'd from its root, 
The bough ftill blackens with fucceflive fruit* 
The tribes, who tafte it, burft into a fit 
Of raving mockery and rancorous wit ; 
And pleas'd their tyrant's ghaftly fmile to court, 
By vile diftortions make him various fport. 
The frantic rabble, who his fway confefs, 
Before his throne an hideous puppet drefs ; 



OF TEMPER* 77 



When in unfeemly rags they have array'd 
The image, from their own dark femblance made, 
In horrid gambols round their work they throng, 
With antic dance and rude dicordant fong ; 
Satire's rank offals on the block they fling, 
And call it nature, to delight their king : 
While in their features he exults to fee 
The frowns of torture, mixt with grins of glee. 
For, as thefe abject toils engage the crew, 
Their own grim idol darkens to their view ; 
Wide and more wide its horrid ftature fpreads, 
And o'er the tribe new confirmation fheds : 
For each forgets, in his bewilder 'd gaze, 
5 Tis but a monfter, which he help'd to raife. 
As o'er its form their dizzy glances roll, 
It ftrikes a cheerlefs damp thro' all the foul. 
Vainly to fhun the baleful fight they try, 
It draws for ever the reluctant eye : 
At each review with deeper dread they ftart ; 
A colder chaos numbs each freezing heart. 



78 THE TRIUMPHS 

No mutual confidence, no friendly care, 
Relieves the panic they are doom'd to bear ; 
For as they fhrink abforb'd in wild affright, 
When each to each inclines his wounded fightj 
They feel, for focial comfort, four difguft. 
And all the fullen anguifh of diftruft. 

Around thefe wretches in the drear abode, 
The ghaftly grinning fiend Derifion rode, 
Who to their wayward minds on earth fupplied 
Perverted ridicule's malignant tide. 
His fteed of Pegafus the femblance bore ; 
But with falfe wings, that knew not how to foar : 
Where'er he pafs'd, with mifchief in his look, 
A founding whip of knotted fnakes he {hook : 
And laugh 'd in lafhing each pretended fage, 
Whofe malice wore the mafk of moral rage. 
An uncouth bugle his left hand difplay'd, 
From a grey monkey's fkull by Cunning made, 
And form'd to pour, in harmony's defpite, 
Sounds that each jarring fenfe of pain excite : 



OF TEMFBRt 79 

And now his livid lips the bugle blew ; 
Thro' every den the piercing difcord flew ; 
The fiends all anfwer'd in one hideous yell, 
And in a fearful trance Serena fell. 
Hence from the lovely nymph her fenfes fled, 
Till thro' the parted curtains of her bed, 
The amorous fun, who now began to rife, 
Kift, with a fportive beam, her opening eyes, 



END OF THE THIRD CANTO* 



8o THE TRIUMPHS 



CANTO IV. 

JlJL AI L, thou enlighten'd globe of human joy ! 
Where focial cares the fof ten' d heart employ : 
What cheering rays of vital comfort roll 
In thy bright regions o'er the refcued foul, 
Which, 'fcaping from the dark domain of Spleen, 
Springs with new warmth to thy attractive fcene ! 
Once more I blefs thy pleafure-breathing gale, 
And gaze enchanted on thy flowery vale, 
Where fmiling innocence, and ardent youth, 
Sport hand in hand with beauty and with truth. 
Sport on, fweet revellers ! in rofy bowers, 
Safe from th' intrufion of all evil powers ! 
Ah fruitlefs wifh of the benignant Mufe, 
Which to this chequer'd world the Fates refufe ! 
For round its precinfts many an ugly fprite 
Speeds undifcern'd to poifon pure delight s 



OF TEMPER. 8l 



Amidft the foremoft of this haggard band. 
Unwearied pofter of the fea and land, 
Wrapt in dark mifts, malignant Scandal flies, 
While Envy's poifon'd breath the buoyant gale 

fupplies, 
Tho' Sheridan, with fhafts of comic wit, 
Pierc'd, and expos'd her to the laughing pit, 
Th' immortal hag ftill wears her paper crown, 
The dreaded emprefs of the idle town : 
O'erleaping her prerogative of old, 
To link the noble, to defame the bold ;— 
In chafe of worth to flip the dogs of ftrife, 
Thro' all the ample range of public life ;— ■ 
The tyrant now, the fanftuary burn; 
Where happinefs by privacy is nurft, 
Her fury rifmg as her powers increafe, 
O'erturns the altars of domeftic peace. 
Pleas'd in her dark and gall-diftilling cloud, 
The fportive form of innocence to fhroud, 
Beauty's young train her baleful eyes furvey,' 
To mark the faireft, as her favourite prey. 



S2 



THE TRIUMPHS 



Hence, fweet Serena, while thy fpirit ftray'd 
Round the deep realms of fubterranean fhade, 
This keeneft agent of th' infernal powers 
On earth was bufied* in thofe tranquil hours* 
To blaft thy peace* and poifon'd darts to aim 
Againft the honour of thy fpotlefs name : 
For Scandal, reftlefs fiend* who never knows 
The balmy blefling of an hour's repofe, 
Worn, yet unfated with her daily toil, 
In her bafe work confumes the midnight oil. 
O'er fiercer fiends when heavy {lumbers creep. 
When wearied avarice and ambition fleep, 
Scandal is vigilant, and keen to fpread 
The plagues that fpring from her prolific head* 
On truth's fair bans fhe her falfehood builds, 
With tinfel fentiment its furface gilds ; 
To nightly labour from their dark abodes 
The demons of the groaning prefs (he goads, 
And {miles to fee their rapid art fupply 
Ten thoufand wings to every infant lie, 



OF TEMPER, Sg 



In triumph now behold the hag applaud 
Her keen and fav'rite imp, ingenious Fraud, 
Her quick compofitor, whofe flying hand 
Has clos'd the paragraph {he keenly plann'd. 
No nymph (he nam'd, yet mark'd her vile intent^ 
That dulnefs could not mifs the name fhe meant 1 
In fatire's tints the injur'd fair ihe drew. 
In form an angel, but in foul a Jew. 

It chanc'd her fire among his friends inroll'd 
A wealthy fenator, infirm and old ; 
Who, dup'd too early by a generous heart, 
Rafhly aflum'd a mifanthropic part : 
Tho* peevifh fancies would his mind incruft, 
Good-nature's image lurk'd beneath their ruft 3 
And gay Serena, with that fportive wit 
Which heals the folly that it deigns to hit, 
Would oft the ficknefs of his foul beguile, 
And teach the fullen humourift to fmile ; 
Pleas'd by her virtuous frolics to afluage 
The mental anguifh of diftemper'd age, 



84 THE TRIUMPHS 



This ancient friend, in a farcaftic {ketch, 
Was mark'd by Scandal as a monied wretch, 
-For whom the young, yet mercenary fair 
Had fubtly fpread a matrimonial fnare. 
With fuch bafe matter, more diffufely wrought, 
The fpirit-piercing paragraph was fraught, 
O'er which with glee the eye of Scandal glar'd, 
Which for the opening prefs herfelf prepar'd ; 
She on the types her inky wad let fall, 

i 

And fmear'd each letter with her bittereft gall ; 
The prefs, whofe ready gripe the charge receives^ 
Stamps it fucceflive on ten thoufand leaves, 
Which pil'd in heaps impatient feem to lie, 
They only wait the dawn of day to fly. 

Now, as the child, in lonely chamber laid, 
Mute in the dark, and of itfelf afraid, 
When, haply confcious of the pain it feels, 
The watchful mother to its pillow fteals, 
Springs to her breaft, and {hakes off all alarms, 
Feeling its fafety in her foftering arms : 



OF TEMPER. 85 



With fuch quick joy, in innocence as young, 
The foft Serena from her pillow fprung, 
Pleas 'd to awake from her terrific dream , 
And feel the cheerful fun's returning beam. 
Eager {he rofe, in bufy thought, nor (laid 
The wonted fummons of her punctual maid. 
And as her own fair hands adjuft her veft, 
The guardian cincture flutters on her breaft ; 
For fondly, when fhe wak'd, or when fhe flept, 
Still round her heart th' important zone fhe kept. 
Thou happy girdle ! to thy charge be juft ! 
Firm be thy threads, and faithful to their truft; 
For hours approach, when all the ftores they hide 
Of magic virtue, mud be ftrongly tried !— 
Now, while her kind domeftic heart intends 
To pleafe her early fire, the nymph defcends ; 
But fleep, who left the fair with fudden flight, 
With late wings hover ? d o'er the good old knight ; 
And the chill circle of the lone faloon 
Informs the fhiv'ring maid fhe rofe too foon, 
c 



86 THE TRIUMPHS 

J Tis true, attentive John's unfailing care 
Began the rites of breakfaft to prepare ; 
But yet no fires on the cold altar burn. 
No fmoke arifes from the filver urn, 
And the blank tea-board, where no viands lay, 
Only fupplied the paper of the day. 

Tho' mild Serena's peace-devoted mind 
The keen debate of politics declined, 
And heard with cold contempt, or generous hate 3 
The frauds of party and the lies of ftate ; 
Nor car'd much more for fafhion's loofe intrigues. 
Than factious bickerings or foreign leagues ; 
Yet, while (he faunters idle and alone, 
Her carelefs eyes are on the paper thrown. 

As fome gay youth, whom fportive friends engage 
To view the furious ourang in his cage, 
If while amus'd he fees the monfter grin, 
And trufls too carelefs to the bolts within, 
If the fly beaft, as near the grate he draws, 
Tear him unguarded with projected paws, 




S&'tka/d. del. JJeulL fculp.'' 

ZenJen.J 1 u6ti/?uJ Jcpt r ifijdS.by rQuklL, Strand. 



OF TEMPER* 87 



Starts at the wound, and feels his bofom thrill 

With pain and wonder at the fudden ill : 

So did Serena flartj fo wildly gaze, 

In fuch mixt pangs of anguifh and amaze. 

Feeling the Wound which Scandal had defign'd 

To lacerate her mild and modeft mind. 

Startled, as one who from eleftric wire 

Unheeding catches unfufpe&ed fire, 

She reads, then almoft doubts that fhe has read, 

And thinks fome vifion hovers round her head ; 

Now, her fixt eye fome finking words confine, 

And now fhe darts it thrice thro* every line ; 

Nor could amazement more her fenfes fhake, 

Had every letter been a gorgon's fnake. 

Now rifmg indignation takes its turn. 

And her fluftVd cheeks with tingling blufhes burn. 

With reftlefs motion and with many a frown, 

Thro' the wide room fhe paces up and down : 

Now, munng, makes a momentary fiand, 

The fatal paper fluttering in her hand. 

G 2 



88 



THE TRIUMPHS 



So the fhy bird, by cruel fportfmen fprung. 
And by their random fire feverely ftung, 
Scar'd, not difabled, by the diftant wound, 
Now trembling flies, now {kirns along the ground, 
Now vainly tries, in fome fequefter'd fpot, 
From her gor'd breaft to fhake the galling fhot. 

Ye tender nymphs ! whofe kindling fouls would 
flame, 
Touch'd, like Serena's, by injurious blame, 
O let your quick and kindred fpirits form 
A vivid pifture of the mental ftorm 
In which fhe labour' d, and whofe force to paint 
The Mufe's ftrongefl tints appear too faint ! 
In fympathetic thought her fuffering fee ! 
But O, for ever from fuch wrongs be free ! 

Her faithful girdle try'd its power to fave, 
And oft a monitory impulfe gave ; 
Still unregarded, flill unfelt, it prefl 
With ufelefs energy her heaving breaft, 



OF TEMPER. 89 



Her mind, forgetful of the magic zone, 

Full of the burning {haft by Scandal thrown, 

With blended notes of forrow and difdain, 

Thus in diforder'd language vents its pain : — 

" Had Malice dar'd my honour to defame, 

The felf-refuted lie had loft its aim : 

But here the world, deceiv'd by fland'rous art, 

Muft think Serena has a venal heart." 

A venal heart ! at that detefted found, 

In fwelling anguifli her funk voice was drown'd. 

Now was a fearful crifis of her fate : 

Diftended now by paffion's growing weight. 

And for its miftrefs fill'd with confcious dread, 

The magic girdle crack 'd thro' every thread, 

And fnapp'd perchance by Scandal's force accurft. 

From her full heart the guardian zone had burft, 

And, fpite of all the virtues of the fair. 

The fpell of happinefs had funk in air, 

But that Sophrosyne, whofe friendly fear 

Timely forefaw this trial too fevere. 



go THE TRIUMPHS 



An early fuccour gain'd from fecret Love, 
From the fell kite to fnatch the falling dove* 

As Nature ftudies, in her wide domain, 
To blend fome antidote with every bane ; 
Thus her kind aid the friendly power contrived, 
That, from the quarter whence the wound arrived. 
There flow'd, the anguifh of that wound to calm, 
A Toothing, foft, and medicinal balm. 
As in her agitated hand the fair 
Wav'd the loofe paper with diforder'd air, 
In capitals fhe faw Serena flame : 
She bluftVd, fhe fhudder'd, as fhe viewed the name ; 
Her ready fears fubfide in new furprife, 
And eager thus fhe reads with lightened eyes : 

'• Go, faithful fonnet, to Serena fay 

What charms peculiar in her features reign; 

A ftranger, whom her glance may ne'er flirvev, 
Pays her this tribute in no flattering ftrain. 



J.c/iflcnJ'ublijJied Ji'pl^i'Sj'SS.by T.Gxddl Strand. 



OF TEMPER. t)t 



Tell her, the bard, in beauty's wide domain. 

Has feen a virgin cheek as richly glow, 
A bofom, where the blue meandering vein 

Sheds as foft luflre thro* the lucid mow. 
Eyes, that as brightly flafh with joy and youth,- < 

And locks, that like her own luxuriant flow:- . 
Then fay, for then fhe cannot doubt thy truth, 

That the wide earth no female form can fhow 
Where Nature's legend fo difiinctly tells, 

In this fair fhrine a fairer fpirit dwells.'' 

With curious wonder the reviving maid 
View'd this fond homage to her beauty paid; 
A fecond glance o'er every line fhe caft, 
And half pronounc'd and half fupprefs'd the lait ? 
While modeft pleafure, and ingenuous pride, 
Her burning cheek with deeper crimfon dy'd. 

O Praife ! thy language was by Heaven defignY 
As manna to the faint bewilder'd mind * 



€)2 THE TRIUMPHS 



Beauty and Diffidence, whofe hearts rejoice 
In the kind comfort of thy cheering voice, 
In this wild wood of life, wert thou not nigh, 
Mull, like the wandering babes, lie down and die; 
But thy fweet accents wake new vital powers, 
And make this thorny path a path of flowers: 
As oil on ocean's troubled waters fpread, 
Smooths the rough billow to a level bed, 
The foothing rhyme thus foften'd into reft 
The painful tumult of Serena's bread. 

Now, to herfelf reftor'd, the confcious maid 
The lurking fiend's infidious fnare furvey'd; 
Her nerves, with grateful trepidation, own 
A {lighter preffure from the faithful zone; 
And in fond thought (he breathes a thankful prayer 
For her setherial guardian's conftant care; 
Yet with a keen defire her bofom glow'd 
To hear from whom the gentle fonnet flow'd: 
But kind Sophrosyne, who watch'd unfeen, 
To fhield her votary from the wiles of Spleen, 



OF TEMPER. 93 



As friendly Love had fixt a future time, 
When to reveal the fecret of the rhyme, 
Strove till that hour her fancy to reftrain, 
Nor let her anxious wifhes rife to pain. 

As gaiety's frefh tide began to roll, 
Fart in the fwelling channel of her foul, 
The good old knight defcends, tho' eager, flow, 
The gout ftill tingling in his tender toe ; 
And now, paternal falutations part, 
His eyes he keenly on the paper caft, 
While his fweet daughter, with attentive grace, 
Before him flies his ready cup to place ; 
For tea and politics alternate (hare, 
In friendly rivalfhip, his morning care, 
Tho' fmooth as oil the knight's good-humour flows 5 
When the mild breeze of pleafant fortune blows^ 
Yet, quick to catch the cafual fparks of ire, 
Like oil it kindles into mounting fire ; 
And fiercely now his flaming fpirit blaz'd, 
While on thofe galling words he wildly gaz*d, 



94 



THE TRIUMPHS 



Whofe force had almoft work'd into a ftorm 

The gentler elements in Beauty's form. 

As the farcaftic fentence caught his view, 

Back from the board his elbow-chair he drew 3 

And, by {harp flings of fudden fury prick'd. 

Far from his foot his gouty ftbol he kick'd. 

Fierce as Achilles, by Atrides flung, 

He pour'd the ftream of vengeance from his tongue. 

But ah, thofe angry threats he deign'd to fpeak, 

Had founds, alas! far differing from the Greek.. 

Rage from his lips in legal language broke ; 

Of juries and of damages he fpoke, 

And on the printer's law-devoted head 

He threatened deep revenge in terms moft dread; 

Terms that with pain the ear of Beauty pierce, 

And oaths too rough to harmonize in verfe. 

While thus the good old knight, with paflion hot r 
His toad neglected, aud his tea forgot, 
The difcord of the drama to increafe, 
Now prim Penelope affails her niece ; 



OF TEMPER. 9-5 

V T1 



For, as Sir Gilbert now, with choler dumb, 
Points her the period with his angry thumb, 
" Ah!' brother," cries the ftiff, malignant crone," 
(Her fharp eye fwiftly thro' the fentence thrown) 
u Scandal could never rife to heights like this, 
But from the manners of each modern Mifs ; 
Had but my niece, lefs giddy and more grave, 
Obferv'd the prudent hints I often gave — — " 

The honeft knight her vile conclufion faw, 
And quick curtail J d it with a tefty " Pfhaw!" 
Meanwhile the gentle maid, who heard the. taunt,. 
Survey'd without a frown her prudifh aunt : 
Far other thoughts employed her fofter mind, 
To one fweet purpofe all her foul inclin'd ; 
How fhe might clofe th* unpleafant fcene, how belt 
Reftore good humour to her father's bread. 
Her airy guardian with delight furvey'd 
Thefe tender wifhes in the lovely maid, 
And, to accomplifh what her heart defir'd, 
Trains of new thought above her age infpir'd. 



§6 THE TRIUMPHS 

As Venus on her fon's enlighen'd face, 
Shed richer charms, and more attractive grace, 
When ifluing forth from the diffolving cloud, 
His bright form burft on the admiring crowd : 
So kind Sophrosyne, unfeen, fupplies 
A livelier radiance to Serena's eyes; 
And, ere fhe fpeaks, to captivate her fire, 
Touches her lips with patriotic fire. 

It chanc'd, that tofs'd upon a vacant chair. 
A volume of that wit lay near the fair, 
Whofe value, try'd by Fafhion's varying touch, 
Once rofe too high, and now is funk too much ; 
The book, which Fortune plac'd within her reach, 
Contain'd, O Chesterfield, the liberal fpeech 
In which thy fpirit, like an Attic fage, 
Strove to defend the violated ftage 
From fetters bafely forg'd by minifterial rage. 
From this the nymph her ufeful leffon took, 
And thus began, reclining on the book : — 
<: If on this noble lord we may rely y 
Scandal is but a fpeck on Freedom's eye ; 



OF TEMPER, 



97 



And public fpirit, then, will rather bear 

The cafual pain it gives by growing there/ 

Than, by a rafh attempt to move it thence, 

Hazard the fafety of a precious fenfe, 

And, by the efforts of a vain defire, 

Rob this life-darting eye of all its fire. 

Tho 5 the pure breaft of Innocence may fmart. 

By cruel Calumny's corroding dart, 

Yet would {he rather ache in every nerve, 

And bear thofe pangs fhe knows not to deferve^ 

Much rather than be made a fenfelefs tool, 

To aid the frenzy of tyrannic rule, 

Or forge one dangerous bolt for Power to aim 

At facred Liberty's fuperior frame." ■ 

As ancient chiefs were wont of old to gaze, 
With eyes of tender awe, and fond amaze 
On the fair prieftefs of the Delphic fane, 
When flrft fhe utter'd her prophetic flrain, 
Entranc'd in wonder, thus Sir Gilbert view'd 
His child, yet more infpir'd, who thus purfu'd s 



THE TRIUMPI-iS 



" For me, I own, thefe lines, with gal] replete. 
Shot thro 5 my fimple heart a fudden heat ; 
But happier thoughts my rifmg rage repreft, 
And turn'd the pointlefs i-nfult to a jeft : 
And oh ! fhould Slander full new wrath awake, 
Still may my father, for his daughter's fake, 
Difdain the vengeance of litigious ftrife, 
And let Serena's anfwer be — her life!" 

She ended with a fmile, whofe magic flame 
Shot youthful vigour thro' her father's frame : 
His age, his anger, and his gout, are fled ; 
" Enchanting girl !" with tears of joy, he faid, 
" Enchanting girl !" twice echoed from his tongue. 
As, fpeaking, from his elbow-chair he fprung, 
i; Come to thy father's arms ! — By Heaven, thou art 
His own true offspring, and a Whig in heart. 5 ' 

He fpoke ; and his fond arms around her curl'd 
With proud grafp, feeming to infold the world. 
Her confeious heart fhe feels with triumph beat, 
And joys to find that triumph is complete ; 



'OF TEMTER. 59 



For ftiff Pen elope, who near them flood, 
" Albeit unufed to the melting mood," 
Squeez'd from her eye-lid one reluftant tear, 
And foften'd with a fmile ber brow fevere : 
But 'twas a fmile of inch a gloomy grace, 
As lighten'd once upon Ale&o's face. 
When Orpheus pad her, leading back to life, 
Trom Pluto's regions, his recover'd wife, 
'When love connubial, join'd to mufic's fpell, 
Moiften'd with tender joy the eyes of hell. 
Far other fmiles, with pleafure's fofeft air, 
<Jild the gay features of the youthful fair: 
She looks like fportive Spring, when her young charms 
Wind round her hoary fire's reluftant arms, 
And, by a frolic infantine embrace, 
Banifh the rugged frown from Winter's face. 

Thro' the long day fhe felt the glowing tide 
Df exultation thro' her bofom glide; 
And oft fhe wifh'd for flow-approaching night, 
To hold fweet sonverfe with her guardian fprite* 

tore. 



lOO THE TRIUMPHS 

At length the hour approach'd her heart defir'd. 

And, in her lonely chamber now retir'd, 

Her tender fancy gave the fondeft fcope 

To ardent gratitude and eager hope. 

" Dear airy being !" (the foft nymph exclaim'd) 

ii Whofe power can break the fpell that Spleen has 

fram'd, 
Can, by the waving of thy viewlefs wing, 
O'er darkeft forms a golden radiance fling, 
And make, in minds by forrieft thoughts perplext, 
This moment's grief the triumph of the next ; 
I blefs thy fuccour in each trial paft ; 
Be prefent (lill, and fave me in the laft!" 

Thus, with her lovely eyes devoutly fixt, 
Where rays of hope, and fear, and reverence mixt, 
The tender fair her faithful guard addreft, 
Then with her cheek her downy pillow preft ; 
But long her wakeful lids refufe to clofe, 
For curiofity difpels repofe. 
Her bufy mind the myftic veil would pierce, 
That hides the author of the pleafmg verfe ; 



OF TEMPER* 101 



Her lips involuntary catch the chime, 
And half articulate the foothing rhyme, 
Till weary thought no longer watch can keep, 
Rut finks reluftant in the folds of fleep. 



END OF THE FOURTH CANTO. 



102 THE TRIUMPHS 



CANTO V. 

W H Y art thou fled, O bleft poetic time ! 
When Fancy wrought the miracles of rhyme ; 
When, darting from her flar-encircled throne, 
Her poet's eye commanded worlds unknown ; 
When, by her fiat made a mimic god, 
He faw exiftence waiting on his nod, 
And at his pleafure into being brought 
New fhadowy hofls, the vaflals of his thought, 
In Joy's gay garb, in Terror's dread array, 
Darker than night, and brighter than the day ; 
Who at his bidding, thro' the wilds of air, 
Rais'd willing mortals far from earthly care, 
And led them wondering thro' his wide domain, 
Beyond the bounds of Nature's narrow reign ; 
While their rapt fpirits, in the various flight, 
Shook with fucceflive thrills of new delight ? 



OF TEMPER. t03 



Return, fweet feafon, grac'd with fi&ion's flowers, 
Let not cold fyftem cramp thy genial powers ! 
Shall mild Morality, in garb uncouth, 
The houfewife garb of plain and homely Truth, 
Robb'd by ftern Method of her rofy crown, 
Chill her faint votaries by a wintry frown ? 
No ; thou fweet friend of man ! as fuits thee bed, 
Shine forth in Fable's rich embroidered veft ! 
Oh make my verfe thy vehicle, thy arms, 
To fpread o'er focial life thy potent charms ! 
And thou, Sophrosyne, myflerious fprite ! 
If haply I may trace thy fteps aright, 
Roving thro' paths untrod by mortal feet, 
To paint for human eyes thy heavenly feat, 
Shed on my foul fome portion of that power 3 
Which fav'd Serena in the trying hour, 
To bear thofe trials, which, however hard, 
As bards all tell us, may befall the bard ; 
The fop's pert jeft, the critic's frown fevere, 
Learning's proud cant, with Fnvy's artful fneer, 
H 2 



104 THE Triumphs 



And, the vext poet's laft and word difgrace, 
His cold blank bookfeller's rhyme-freezing face* 
Hence ! ye dark omens that to Spleen belong, 
Ye (hall not check the current of my fong, 
While Beauty's lovely race, for whom I nng, 
Fire my warm hand to ftrike the ready firing. 

As Quiet now her lighteft mantle laid 
O'er the (till fenfes of the fleeping maid, 
Her nightly vintant, her faithful guide, 
Defcends in all her empyrean pride ; 
That fairy fhape no more fhe deigns to wear, 
Whofe light foot fmoolhs the furrow plough'd by care 
In mortal faces, while her tiny fpear 
Gives a kind tingle to the caution'd ear. 
Now, in her nobler fhape, of heavenly fize, 
She flrikes her votary's foul with new furprife. 
Jove's favourite daughter, arm'd with all his powers. 
Appeared lefs brilliant to th' attending Hours, 
When on the golden car of Juno rais'd, 
In heavenly pomp the queen of battles blaz'd : 



OF TEMPER. IO5 



With all her luftre, but without the dread 
Which from her arm the frowning gorgon fhed, 
Sophrosyne defcends with guardian love, 
To waft her gentle ward to worlds above. 
From her fair brow a radiant diadem 
Rofe in twelve ftars, and every feparate gem 
Shot magic rays, of virtue to control 
Some paflion hoftile to the human foul. 
Round her fweet form a robe of aether flow'd, 
And in a wonderous car the fmiling Spirit rode ► 
Firm as pure ivory, it charm'd the fight 
With finer polifh and a fofter white. 
The hand of Beauty, with an eafy fwell, 
Scoop'd the free concave like a bending fhell ; 
And on its rich exterior, Art difplay'd 
The triumphs of the Power the car convey 'd. 
^Here, in celeftial tints, furpafling life, 
>Sat lovely Gentlenefs difarming Strife ; 
There, young AfFeftion, born of tender Thought, 
In rofy chains the fiercer paflions caught ; 



106 THE TRIUMPHS 

Ambition, with his fceptre fnapt in twain, 
And Avarice, fcorning what his chefts contain. 
Round the tame vulture flies the fearlefs dove ; 
Soft Innocence embraces playful Love; 
And laughing Sport, the frolic child of Air, 
Buries in flowers the finking form of Care. 

Thefe figures, pencil'd with a touch fo light. 
That every image feem'd an heavenly fprite, 
Breathe on the car ; whofe fight-enchanting frame 
Four wheels fuftain, of pale and purple flame ; 
For no fleet animals, to earth unknown, 
Bear thro' aetherial fields this flying throne, 
As by the fubtle electrician's fkill, 
Globes feem to fly obedient to his will, 
So thefe four circles of inftin&ive fire 
Move by the impulfe of their queen's defire, 
Mount or defcend by her directing care, 
Or reft, fupported by the buoyant air. 

Now, fpringing from her car, that hovering (laic 
High in the chamber of the fleeping maid. 



OF TEMPER. iQ? 



The goddefs, with a voice divinely clear, 

Breath'd thefe kind accents in her votary's ear : — 

{i Come, my fair champion ! who fo well haft fought 

The ufeful battles of contentious thought ; 

To aid thy gentle fpirit to fuftain 

The final conflict of thy deftin'd pain, 

View the rewards that, in my realms of blifs, 

Wait the fweet victor in fuch war as this ! 

So haply may thy mind, with ftrength renew'd, 

The dark devices of the fiend elude ; 

By one biefl effort feal thy triumphs paft, 

And gain thy promis'd guerdon in the lauV* 

As thus fhe fpake, her heavenly arms embrac'd, 
And in the car the confcious maiden plac'd. 
Quick at her wifh the flaming wheels afcend, 
No clouds impede them wherefoe'er they bend. 
As thro' the empire of the winds they rufh'd. 
The winds were all in mute fubmiflion hufh'd t 
i And now Serena, from th* exalted car, 
Look'd down, aftonifh'd, on each finking ftar; 



io8 THE TRIUMPHS 

Flying o'er lucid orbs, whofe diflant light 
Yetvhas not reach'd the fcope of human fight ; 
And now, not diftant from the bounds of fpace. 
The guardian fprite fufpends their rapid race \ 
And, while in deep amaze the nymph admfires 
The circling meteors' inofFenfive fires, 
Pleas'd at her wonder, the mild Power addreft, 
With kind intelligence, her earthly gueft : — 
" Of thofe three orbs, that in yon cryftal fphere 
A feparate fyflem in themfelves appear. 
The laft, whofe luminous and fteady form 
Shines foftly bright and moderately warm, 
Contains my palace, and the gentle train 
Whom I have wafted to this pure domain. 
At equal diftance my dominions lie 
From thefe two larger worlds, more near thine eye : 
Obferve their difference as our wheels advance, 
And palling, take of each a tranfient glance." 

So fpeaking, to the grofler globe fhe fprung, 
Her car fufpended o'er its furface hung, 



OF TEMPER. IO9 



In heavy air ; for round this orb was roll'd 

A circling vapour, dull, and damp, and cold. 

" Here," fays Sophrosyne, M thofe beings dwell, 

Who wanted foul to aft or ill or well ; 

Who faunter'd thoughtlefs thro' their mortal time* 

Without a care, a virtue, or a crime ; 

Here flill they faunter in this languid kene : 

But pafs the dozing crowd, and mark their queen/ 3 

And now, flow-riding on a tortoife' back, 

Her features lifelefs, and each fibre flack, 

Full in their view the nymph Indifference came : 

The quick Serena foon perceiv'd her name ; 

For, as in folemn creeping ftate fhe rode, 

In her lax hand fhe held fair Greville's ode. 

Ne'er did the Mufe from her fweet treafure culi 

Incenfe fo precious for a Power fo dull. 

Still, as fhe mov'd along her even way, 

The heavy goddefs tried to read the lay; 

But at each paufe her inattentive eye 

Stray'd from the paper, which fhe held awry ; 



HO THE TRIUMPHS 



Nor could her lips a fingle line repeat r 
Tho' the foft verfe, moll ravifhingly fweet, 
Thro 5 Time's juft ear will lafting pleafure fpread 3 
And charm the poppy from Oblivion's head. 
Thus, like a city mayor, whofe heavy barge 
Steers its dull progrefs at the public charge, 
This Power, fo cumber'd by her empire's weight. 
Makes her flow circuit round her fluggifh ftate. 
Around her tribes of rambling fceptics crawl, 
Tho' moving, dubious if they move at all. 
Before her, languid Pomp^ her marfhal, creeps. 
Whofe hand her banner half unfolded keeps, 
Its quaint device her dull dominion fpoke — 
An eagle, numb'd by the torpedo's ftroke. 

u Enough of fcenes fo foreign to thy foul," 
Sophrosyne ex claim 'd ; "from this dark goal- 
Pafs we to regions oppofite to this." 
She fpoke ; and, darting o'er the wide abyfs, 
Her car, like lightning in quick flafhes hurl'd, 
Shot to the confines of a clearer world. 



OF TEMPER. Ill 



Now lovelier views the virgin's mind abforb ; 
For now they hover'd o'er a lucid orb. 
Here the foft air, luxuriantly warm. 
Imparts new luftre to Serena's form t 
Her eyes with more expreflive radiance fpeak 3 
And richer rofes open on her cheek. 
Here as fhe gaz'd, fhe felt in every vein 
A blended thrill of pleafure and of pain ; 
Yet every object glittering in her view, 
Her quick regard with fweet attraction drew, 
SophrosynEj who faw the gentle fair 
Lean o'er thefe confines with peculiar care, 
. Smil'd at the tender intereft ihe difplay'd, 
And fpoke regardful of the penfive maid : 
M Well may'ft thou bend o'er this congenial fphere; 
For Senfibility is fovereign here. 
Thou feeft her train of fprightly damfels fport 3 
Where the foft fpirit holds her rural court ; 
But fix thine eye attdfcve to the plain, 
And mark the varying wonders of her reign. s> 



112 THE TRIUMPHS 

As thus fhe fpoke, (he pois'd her airy feat 

High o'er a plain exhaling every fweet ; 

For round its precin&s ail the flowers that bloom 

FilPd the delicious air with rich perfume ; 

And in the midfb a verdant throne appear 'd, 

In fimplefl form by graceful fancy rear'd, 

And deck'd with flowers ; not fuch whofe flaunting 

dyes 
Strike with the ftrongeft tint our dazzled eyes ; 
But thofe wild herbs that tendered fibres bear. 
And fhun th' approaches of a damper air. 
Here flood the lovely ruler of the fcene, 
And beauty, more than pomp, announc'd the queen r 
The bending fnow-drop, and the briar- role, 
The Ample circle of her crown compofe ; 
Rofes of every hue her robe adorn, 
Except th' infipid rofe without a thorn. 
Thro' her thin veft her heighten'd beauties fliine ; 
For earthly gauze was never4ialf fo fine. 
Of that enchanting age her figure feems, 
When fmiling nature with the vital beams. 




Published a* the Act tlbceb by T. tiuIell.Jtr<uui,Tel>Sx''i 7 $0. 



OF TEMPER. Ilg 



Of vivid youth, and pleafure's purple flame, 
Gilds her accomplifh'd work the female framt, 
With rich luxuriance tender, fweetly wild, 
And jufl between the woman and the child. 
Her fair left arm around a vafe fhe flings, 
From which the tender plant mimofa fprings : 
Towards its leaves, o'er which fhe fondly bends 5 
The youthful fair her vacant hand extends 
With gentle motion, anxious to furvey 
How far the feeling fibres own her fway ; 
The leaves, as confcious of their queen's command^ 
Succeflive fall at her approaching hand ! 
Her tender breaft with pity feems to pant, 
And fhrinks at every fhrinking of the plant. 

Around their fovereign, on the verdant ground., 
Sweet airy forms in myftic meafures bound. 
The mighty mafter of the revel, Love, 
In notes more foothing than his mother's dove, 
Trompts the foft flrain that melting virgins fingj 
Or fportive trips around the frolic ring. 



4 14 THE TRIUMPHS 

Coupling, with radiant wreaths of lambent fire, 
Fair fluttering Hope, and rapturous Defire. 
Unnumber'd damfels different charms difplay, 
Penfive with blifs, or in their pleafures gay ; 
And the wide profpe& yields one touching fight 
Of tender, yet diverfined delight. 
But, the bright triumphs of their joy to check, 
In the clear air there hangs a dufky fpeck ; 
It fwells — it fp reads — and rapid, as it grows. 
O'er the gay fcene a chilling fhadow throws. 
The fond Serena, who beheld its flighty 
Sufpe&s no evil from a cloud fo light ; 
For harmlefs round her the thin vapours wreath, 
Not hiding from her view the fcene beneath ; 
But, ah ! too foon, with pity's tender pain, 
She faw its dire effecl; o'er all the plain : 
Sudden from thence the founds of anguifh flow, 
And joy's fweet carols end in fhrieks of woe : 
The wither'd flowers are fall'n that bloom'd fo fair, 
And poifon all the peftilential air. 



t>.F TEMPER. II5 



From the rent earth dark demons force their way, 
And make the fportive revellers their prey. 
Here gloomy Terror, with a fhadowy rope, 
Seems, like a Turkifh mute, to ftrangle Hope ; 
There jealous Fury drowns in blood the fire 
That fparkled in the eye of young Defire ; 
And lifelefs Love lets mercilefs Defpair 
From his crufh'd frame his bleeding pinions tear. 
But pangs more cruel, more intenfely keen, 
Wound and diftraft their fympathetic queen : 
With fruitlefs tears fhe o'er their mifery bends ; 
From her fweet brow the thorny rofe fhe rends, 
And, bow'd by grief's infufferable weight, 
Frantic fhe curfes her immortal ftate : 
The griev'd Serena, as this curfe fhe hears, 
Feels her bright eye fuffus'd with kindred tears ; 
And her kind breaft, where quick companion fwell'd, 
Shar'd in each bitter fuffering fhe beheld. 

The guardian Power furvey'd her lovely grief. 
And fpoke in gentle terms of mild relief .: 



Il6 THE TRIUMPHS 

" For this foft tribe thy heavieft fear difmifs, 
And know their pains are tranfient as their blifs : 
Rapture and Agony, in Nature's loom. 
Have form'd the changing tiffue of their doom ; 
Both interwoven with fo nice an art, 
No power can tear the twifted threads apart : 
Yet happier thefe, to Nature's heart more dear 3 
Than the dull offspring in the torpid fphere, 
Where her warm wifhes, and affections kind 5 
Lofe their bright current in the ftagnant mind. 
Here grief and joy fo fuddenly unite, 
That anguilh ferves to fublimate delight." 

She fpcke ; and, ere Serena could reply, 
The vapour vanifti'd from the lucid iky ; 
The nymphs revive, the Ihadowy fiends are fled, 
The new-born flowers a richer fragrance fhed ; 
The gentle ruler of the changeful land, 
Smiling, refum'd her fymbol of command ; 
Replac'd the rofes of her regal wreath, 
Still trembling at the thorns that lurk beneath ; 



• 



OF TEMPER. li*J 



But to her wounded fubjefts quick to pay 

The tender duties of imperial fway, 

Their wants fhe fuccour'd, they her wifh obey'd, 

And all recovered by alternate aid ; 

While, on the lovely queen's enchanting face* 

Departed forrow's faint and fainter trace 

Gave to each touching charm a more attractive 

grace* 

Now, laughing Sport, from the enlighten'd plain* 
Glear'd with quick foot the veftiges of pain ; 
The gay fcene grows more beautifully bright, 
Than when it firft allur'd Serena's fight ; 
Still her fond eyes o'er all the profpe£l range, 
Flafhing fweet pleafure at the blifsful change : 
Her curious thoughts with fond attachment burn, 
Yet more of this engaging land to learn. 
She finds the chief attendants of the queen, 
Sweet females, wafted from our human fcene ; 
But, as it chanc'd, while all the realm reviv'd, 
A fpirit mafculine from earth arriv'd : 



l8 the triumphs 



Two airy guides conduft the gentle fhade ; 

Genius, in robes of braided flames array'd, 

And a fantaftic nymph, in manners nice, 

Profufely deck'd with many an odd device ; 

Sifter of him, whofe luminous attire 

Flafhes with unextinguifhable fire ; 

Like him in features, in her looks as wild, 

And Singularity by mortals ftyl'd. 

The eager queen, and all her fmiling court, 

Surround the welcome fhade in gentle fport ; 

For in their new affociate all rejoice, 

All pant to hear the accents of his voice. 

Tho' o'er his frame th' Armenian robe was flung, 

The pleafing ftranger fpoke the Gallic tongue ; 

But in that language his enchanting art 

Infpir'd new energy, that feiz'd the heart ; 

In terms fo eloquent, fo fweetly bold, 

A ftory of difaftrous love he told, 

Convuls'd with fympathy, the lift'ning train, 

At every paufe, with dear delicious pain, 

Intreat him to renew the fafcinating drain. 



OF TEMPER. H9 



And now, Serena, with fufpended breath, 
Liften'd, and caught the tale of Julia's death ; 
And quick fhe cries, ere tears had time to flow, 
< : Bleft be this hour ! for now I fee Rouleau." 
Fondly fhe gaz'd, till the enchanting found 
In fuch a potent fpell her fpirit bound, 
That, loft in fweet illufion, fhe forgot 
The promis'd fcenes of the fublimer fpot ; 
Till now her mild remembrancer, whofe care 
Stray'd not a moment from the mortal fair, 
Rous'd her rapt mind, preparing her to meet 
The brighter wonders of her blifsful feat ; 
While her inftinclive car's obedient frame 
Now upward rofe, like undulating flame. 

As when fome vi&or on the watery world. 
Bright honour gilding all his fails unfurPd, 
Steers into port, while to the laughing fky 
His ftreamers tell his triumph as they fly ; 
Expefting thoufands line the crowded ftrand, 
Swell the glad voice, or wave the joyous hand; 



120 THE TRIUMPHS 



Prefling to view the fight their vows implor'd, 

And hail their glory and their ftrength reftor'd: 

So the bleft beings of this fmiling fcene 

Flock'd round the car of their returning queen. 

The radiant car, from which they now alight, 

Careful fhe gives to a felefted fprite, 

A nymph of fnowy vefL and lovely frame, 

Fidelity her fair and fpotlefs name ; 

Then, happy to review her hallow 'd home, 

Leads her fweet gueft to her celeftial dome. 

Gentleft of powers ! for every purpofe fit, 
To ftrengthen wifdom, and embellifh wit ; — 
Thou, whofe mild arts, poflefs'd by thee a!one 5 
Can give to Virtue's voice a fweeter tone ; 
Allay the froft of age, or fire of youth, 
And lend attraction to fevereft truth ; 
Improve e'en Beauty by thy graceful eafe, 
Or teach Deformity herfelf to pleafe ;*— 
Infpire the bard, whofe juft ambition pants 
To guide weak mortals to thy heavenly haunts ! 



OF TEMPER. 121 

1 f 



Grant him, in notes that, like thy foft control. 
Allure attention, and poflefs the foul ; 
Grant him to fhew, in luminous difplay, 
The myftic wonders of thy fecret fway ! 

Now, at the fight of the prefiding power. 
Wide fpread the gates of a ftupendous tower, 
On whofe firm height, commanding Nature's bounds 
The faithful warder of the fort they found, 
Wakeful Intelligence, a trufty fprite, 
Whofe eyes are piercing as the folar light, 
And ever on the watch to found alarm, 
If aught of dufky hue, portending harm. 
Should, in defiance of her mandate, dare 
Approach the palace of th' imperial fair. 
Within his ward, magnificently great, 
Lies the rich armoury that guards her ftate. 
Here ftands Conviction's ftrong and lucid fpear, 
Whofe touch annihilates fufpenfe and fear ; 
Here, Truth's ufullied adamantine fhield, 
Which, fave Sophrosyne, no power can wield: 



122 THE TRIUMPHS 

And Reafon's trenchant blade of blazing fteel, 
Its edge and polifh form'd by friendly zeal ; 
And, not lefs fure their deftm/d mark to hit, 
Pointed by Virtue's hand, the fhafts of Wit ; 
And Ridicule's ftrong bolt, whofe ftunning blow 
Lays towering Vice and fearlefs Folly low. 
Here too the goddefs kept, in myftic ftate, 
Thofe fweet rewards that on her champions wait, 
Guerdons more precious than triumphant palms :- 
The glance of Gratitude for mental alms, 
The kifs of Peace, and Reconcilement's tear, 
And fmiles of Sympathy, are treafurM here. 

Thefe precin&s part, now hand in hand they came 
To the rich fabric of majeftic frame ; 
Inftinft with joy their fovereign to behold, 
The gates of maflive adamant unfold ; 
And, as the gently-moving valves unclofe, 
Myflerious mufic from their motion flows ; 
The airy notes thro' all the palare roam. 
And dulcet echoes fill the feftivt dome : 



OF TEMPER. I23 



A gorgeous hall amaz'd Serena's eyes, 
Compar'd to which, in fplendor, ftrength, and fize, 
The nobleft works of which Tradition lings, 
Judaic fhrine, or feat of Memphian kings, 
Would feem more humble than the waxen cell 
In which the fk-ilful bee is proud to dwell. 
Here (its a Power, in whofe angelic face 
Beauty is fweeten'd by maternal grace ; 

• Her radiant feat, furpafling mortal art, 
Supports an emblem of her liberal heart, 
A pelican, who rears her callow brood, 
And from her vitals feems to draw their food.' 

j Around this fpirit flock a filial hoft, 

Who blefs her empire, and her guidance boaft. 
Here every fcience, all the arts attend, 
In her they hail their parent and their friend ; 
Each to her prefence brings the happy few, 
Whofe dearefl: glory from her favour grew. 
Here, in her fimple charms, with youthful fire, 
Proud to difplay the magic of her lyre, 



124 TH£ TfclUM'FHS 

f _— ^ ■ — „ — , — 

Soul-foothing Harmony prefents her band : 

Befide her Orpheus and Amphion ftand. 

Here, mild Philofophy, whofe thoughtful frown 

Is fweetly fhaded by her olive crown, 

(In all her Attic elegance array 'd, 

Strong to convince, and gentle to perfuade) 

To her, whofe breath infpir'd his every rule, 

Leads the bleft fire of the Socratic fchool. 

Each animating bard and moral fage, 

The heaven-taught minds of every clime and age ; 

Who foften'd manners, and refin'd the foul, 

Flock to this prefence, as to glory's goal ; 

And, as the mother's heart, that yearns to blefs 

The rival innocents that round her prefs, 

Delights to fee them, as her love they fhare, 

Sport in her fight, and flour ifh by her care : 

Fondly refponfive to their every call, 

Tender of each, and provident for all : 

So this fweet image of celeftial grace, 

Who fits encircled by her lovely race. 



©F TEMPER. I2g 



To every fcience vital ftrength imparts, 

And rears the circle of the focial arts ; 

With fuch folicitude fhe gives to each 

Pow'rs of fublimer aim and wider reach. 

And now Sophrosyne, who near her preft, 

Thus fpoke her title to her earthly gueft: — 

" Behold the honour'd form, without whofe aid 

My ftrength mull vanifh, and my glory fade ! 

Source of my being, and my life's fupport ! 

Eunoia call'd in this celeftial court, 

Benevolence the name fhe bears on earth, 

The guard of weaknefs, and the friend of worth.'* 

She ended : and the mild maternal form 
Embrac'd Serena with a fmile as warm 
As the gay fpirit Vegetation wears, 
When fhe to crown her favourite nymph prepares, 
When, pleas'd her flowery treafures to difplay, 
She pours them in the lap of youthful May. 

But how, Serena ! how may human fpeech 
Thy heavenly raptures in this moment reach ? 



126 



THE TRIUMPHS 



If aught of earthly fentiment may vie 

With the pure joy thefe happy fcenes fupply, 

*Tis when, unmixt with trouble and with pain, 

Love glides in fecret thro' the glowing vein ; 

When fome fond youth, unconfcious of its fire, 

Free from chill fear and turbulent defire, 

With every thought abforb'd in fcft delight, 

Sees all creation in his fair-one's fight, 

And feels a blifsful ftate without a name, 

Repofe of foul with harmony of frame. 

So, plung'd in pleafure of the pureft kind, 

Serena gaz'd on the maternal mind; 

Gaz'd till Sophrosyne's directing aid 

Thus fummon'd to new fights th* obedient maid r— 

" Hafle, my fair charge, for of this ample ftate, 

Tracts yet unfeen thy vifitation wait. 

The prefling hours forbid me to unfold 

Each feparate province which thefe confines hold ; 

But I will lead thee to that blifsful crew, 

Whofe kindred ("pints be ft deferve thy view." 



OF TEMPER. 127 



So fpeaking, her attentive guefl fhe led 
Thro' fcenes, that ftill increafing wonder bred. 
Where'er fhe trod, thro ? all her gorgeous feat. 
Soft mufic echoed from beneath her feet ; 
Paffing a portal, on whofe lucid ftone 
Emblems of innocence and beauty fhone, 
They reach a lawn with verdant luftre bright, 
And view the bowers of permanent delight* 
No fiery fun here forms a fcorching noon, 
No baleful meteor gleams, no chilling moon : 
But, from a latent fburce, one foothing light, 
Whofe eonftant rays, repel the mift of night, 
Tho' tender, cheerful, and tho y warm, ferene, 
Gives lafting beauty to the lovely fcene. 
No fenfual thought this paradife profanes ; 
For here tried Excellence in triumph reigns. 
Benignant cares eternal joy fupply, 
And blifs angelic beams in every eye* 

" In yonder groups," the leading fpirit cried, 
* : My favorite females fee, my faireft pride* 



-.28 THE TRIUMPHS 

The firft in rank is that diftinguifh'd train, 
Whofe ftrength of foul was tried by Hymen's chain : 
Tho' beauty bleft their form , and love, their guide, 
Their nuptial band with happieft omens tied. 
Beauty and love, they felt, may lofe the art 
To fix inconftant man's eccentric heart ; 
Yet, confcious of their lord's neglected vow, 
No virtue frown'd outrageous on their brow, 
To keep returning tendernefs aloof, 
By coarfe upbraiding, and defpis'd reproof: 
With forrow fmother'd in attraction's fmiie, 
They ftrove the fenfe of mifery to beguile ; 
And, from wild paflion's perilous abyfs, 
Lure the loft wanderer back to faithful blifs. 
See mild Oftavia o'er this band prefide, 
Voluptuous Antony's neglected bride, 
Whofe feeling heart, with all a mother's care, 
Rear'd the young offspring of a rival fair. 
Far other trials rais'd yon lovely crew, 
Tho' in connubial fcenes their merit grew: 



OF TEMPER. 



It was their chance, ere judgment was mature, 

When glittering toys the infant mind allure, 

Following their parents' avaricious rule, 

To wed, with hopes of blifs, a wealthy fool. 

When time remov'd Deluflon's veil by flealth. 

And fhow'd the drear vacuity of wealth ; 

When fad experience proved the bitter fate 

0£ beauty coupled to a fenfelefs mate : 

Thefe gentle wives ftill gloried to fubmit ; 

Thefe, tho' invited by alluring wit, 

Refus'd in paths of lawlefs joy to range, 

Nor murmur'd at the lot they could not change J 

But, with a lively fweetnefs, unoppreft 

By a dull hufband's lamentable jeft, 

Their conftant rays of gay good-humour fpread 

A guardian glory round their ideot's head. 

The next in order are thofe lovely forms, 

Whofe patience weather'd all paternal ftorms 5 

By filial cares, the mind's unfailing teft, 

Well have they earn'd thefe feats of blifsful reft r 



130 THE TRIUMPHS 

They, unrepining at fevere reftraint, 

Peevifh commands, and undeferv'd complaint; 

Bent with unwearied kindnefs to appeafe 

Each fancied want of querulous difeafe ; 

Gave up thofe joys which youthful hearts engage, 

To watch the weaknefs of parental age. 

Turn to this cheerful band ; and mark in this, 
Spirits who juftly claim my realms of blifs ! 
Moft lovely thefe ! when judg'd by generous truth, 
Tho' beauty is not their's, nor blooming youth : 
For thefe are they, who, in life's thorny fhade, 
Repin'd not at the name of ancient maid. 
No proud difdain, no narrownefs of heart, 
Held them from Hymen's tempting rites apart ; 
But fair Difcretion led them to withdraw 
From the priz'd honour of his proffer'd law ; 
To quit the obje£t of no hafly choice, 
In mild fubmifllon to a parent's voice ; 
The valued lover with a figh refign, 
And facrifice delight at Duty's ftrine. 



OF TEMPER. 131 



With fmiles they bore, from angry fpleen exempt. 

Injurious mockery, and coarfe contempt : 

'Twas theirs to clafp, each felfifh care above, 

A filter's orphans with parental love, 

And all her tender offices fupply, 

Tho' bound not by the ftrong maternal tie : 

'Twas theirs to bid inteftine quarrels ceafe, 

And form the cement of domeftic peace. 

No throbbing joy their fpotlefs bofom fir'd, 

Save what Benevolence herfelf infpir'd ; 

No praife they fought, except that praife refin'd, 

Which the heart whifpers to the worthy mind. 

Such are thefe gentle tribes, the happy few 
Who fhare the triumph to their viftory due : 
Angelic aims their fpotlefs minds employ, 
And fill their meafure of unchequer'd joy. 
Behold ! where fome with generous ardor wait 
Around yon feer, who holds the book of fate ; 
Thofe awful leaves with eager glance they turn, 
Thence with celeftial zeal they fondly learn 



102 THE TRIUMPHS 



What dangers threaten, thro* the vale of earth, 

Their kindred pilgrims, ere they rife to birth : 

To earth they ftill invifibly defcend, 

In that dark fcene congenial minds defend. 

From pleafure's bud drive fpleen's corroding worm. 

And in my votaries' heart my power confirm. 

Delights more calm yon liftening band employ. 
Who deeply drink of intelle&ual joy. 
See them around that fpeaking nymph rejoice, 
Their pleafures varying with her varied voice I 
What graces in the fweet enthufiaft glow ! 
Repeating here whate'er {he learns below. 
Memory her name, her charge o'er earth to flit. 
And cull the faireft flowers of human wit. 
Whatever Genius, in his happieft hour, 
Has penn'd, of moral force and comic power, 
To warm the heart, the fpells of Spleen unbind, 
And pour gay funfhine o'er the mifty mind ; 
Teach men to cherifh their fraternal tie, 
And view kind nature with a filial eye ; 






OF TEMPER. I33 



This a£Hve fpirit catches in her flight, 

Skill J d to retain, and happy to recite. 

Here fhe delivers each bright work, and each 

Gains new attraction from her graceful fpeech, 

Warpt by no envy, by no love mifledj 

Equal fhe holds the living and the dead ; 

Alike rehearhng, as they claim their turn, 

The fong of Anfley and the tale of Sterne. 

Here Truth in Honour's feat a bard enthrones. 

Who caught from Nature all her fined tones; 

Her fa v' rite bard ! to decorate whofe lyre 

Talents of wide diverfity confpire : 

Who blends, (enchanting friend of every hour!) 

Humour's light grace with Fancy's lofty power ; 

Freedom and fanclity. in union fweet. 

The tafk of Cowper (their own tafk !) repeat, 

To match whofe beauties (all to virtue dear!) 

Verfe-proud Antiquity prefents no peer. 

But morning calls thee hence. — Yet one fcene more. 
My foflering love fhall lead thee to explore. 



L 34 



THE. TRIUMPHS 



This, thy laft fight, with careful eyes furvey, 
And mark th' extenfive nature of my fway«" 

Thus with fond zeal the guardian fpirit/ faid, 
And to new precinct.s of her palace led ; 
The fcene fhe enter'd of her richeft ftate, 
Where on her voice the fubjecl; paflions wait : 
Here rofe a throne of living gems fo bright 
No breath could fully their benignant light ; 
This, her immortal feat, the gracious guide 
Affum'd : her ward flood wondering at her fide. 
Swift as they felt their ruling Power enthron'd, 
^Etherial beings, who her empire own'd, 
Crowded in glittering pomp the gorgeous fcene, 
To pay their homage to their heavenly queen. 

Firfl came chafle Love, whofe fweet harmonious 
form 
Ne'er felt fufpicion's foul-convulfmg {lorm ; 
No baleful arrow in his quiver lies, 
No blinding veil inwraps his fparkling eyes ; 



OF TEMPER. 135 



There all the rays of varied joy unite, 
And jointly {hed unfpeakable delight. 
With him was Friendfhip, like a virgin dreft, 
The foft albedos form'd her fimple veft, 
Whofe wond'rous folds, in fiercefl flames entire, 
Mock the vain ravage of confuming fire : 
Around this robe, a myflic chain fhe wore, 
Each golden link a ftar of diamonds bore ; 
Force could not tear the finifh'd work apart, 
Nor int'reft loofe it by his fubtleft art : 
But, ftrange to tell, if the prefiding Power, 
Who to her favourite gave this precious dower, 
If kind Sophrosyne could fail to breathe 
Her vital virtue on this magic wreath, 
The parts muft fever, faithlefs to their truft, 
The gold grow drofs, and every diamond dull. 
Thefe Valour follow'd, deck'd with verdant palm, 
Gracefully bold, majeftically calm, 
A mingled troop fucceed, with feftive found, 
Wifdom with olive, Wit with feathers crown'd ; 
k 2 



I36 THE TRIUMPHS 



Here, hand in hand they move, no longer foes. 
Their charms increafing as their union grows ; 
Pure fpirits all, who hating mental flrife, 
Exalt creation, and embellifh life ; 
All here attend, and, in their fovereign's praife. 
Their circling forms the fong of glory raife. 

The bleft Serena drinks, with ravifiVd ear. 
The melting mufic of the tuneful fphere. 
Now in its clofe the foothing echoes roll 
O'er her rapt fancy, and intrance her foul 1 
Her fenfes fink in foft oblivion's bands, 
Till faithful Jenny at her pillow ftands, 
Recalls each mental and corporeal power, 
While fhe proclaims aloud the pafling hour ; 
And, in a voice expreffive of furprife, 
Too fhrill to feem the mufic of the fkies, 
Informs the ftartled fair 'tis time to rife. 
Gay as Aurora from her couch fhe fprung, 
Joy in her eyes and mufic on her tongue. 

END OF THE FIFTH CANTO. 



CF TEMPER. I37 



CANTO VI. 

JjLEST be the heart of fympathetic mould, 
Whatever form that gentle heart infold, 
Whofe generous fibres with fond terror fhake, 
When keen affli&ion threatens to o'ertake 
Young artlefs Beauty, as alarm 'd fhe ftrays 
Thro' the flrange windings of this mortal maze ! 
To fuch, Serena, be thy ftory known, 
Whofe bofom beft can make thy lot their own, 
And, kindly fharing in thy trials pad, 
Attend with fweet anxiety the laft. 
The hour approaches, the tremendous hour. 
In whofe dark moments deeper perils lower ; 
Still fo inwrapt in Pleafure's gay difguife, 
They lurk invifible to Caution's eyes ; 
And, unfufpefted by the fair-one, wait 
To cancel or confirm her blifsful fate. 



i 3 8 



THE TRIUMPHS 



Her lively mind with bright ideas ftor'd, 
She takes her ftation at the breakfaft-board : 
Still her rapt foul the heavenly vifion fills, 
And Tweeter graces in her fmile infills ; 
New hopes of triumph glide thro' every nerve. 
And arm her glowing heart with firm referve ; 
Confcious the final trying chance impends. 
To bear its force her every power fhe bends ; 
In her quick thought ambitious to prefage 
How Spleen^s dark agents may exert their rage 5 
She ponders on what perils may befall, 
And fondly deems her mind a match for all. 
Ah, lovely nymph ! this dangerous pride forego ; 
Pride may betray — fecurity's thy foe. 

While fancied prudence thus, a foreign gueft. 
Sits doubly cherifn'd in Serena's breaft, 
Behold a billet her attention (leal. 
No common arms compofe its ample feal ; 
Th* unfolding paper breathes a rofeate fcenr. 
Sweet harbinger of joy, its kind intent, 



OF TEMPER. T39 



Of courteous'FiLLiGREE it bears the name, 

Clear fymptom of the peer's increafing flame I 

The gracious earl, lamenting pleafure loft, 

And fair Serena in her wifhes croft, 

Has plann'd, in honour of the lovely maid, 

A fancied ball, a private mafquerade, 

And fupplicates her fire, with warm efteem, 

To fmile indulgent on the feftive fcheme. 

All arts he ufes to infure the grant, 

Nor leaves urfafk'd the eager maiden aunt. 

Quick at the found Serena's glowing heart 

Throbs with gay hopes ; but foon thofe hopes depart : 

Reflection, in her foul a faithful guard, 

The opening avenues of pleafure barr'd : 

She deem'd the plan of this delightful {how, 

But the new ambufh of her fecret foe ; 

The blifs too bright to realize, fhe guefs'd, 

And chas'd th' idea from her guarded breaft. 

While thefe difcreet refolves her thought employ, 

Tranquil fhe triumphs o'er her fmother'd joy. 



140 THE TRIUMPHS 

Not fo the knight — to his parental eyes, 
In dazzling pomp delufive vifions rife : 
That coronet, the object of his vow, 
He fees fufpended o'er his daughter's brow ; 
Eager he burns to fnap the pendent thread. 
And fix the glory on his darling's head. 
Far wifer aims the ancient maiden caught, 
No empty gew-gaw flutters in her thought ; 
But, while more keenly (he applauds the plan 5 
Her hope is folid and fubflantial man*; 
Not for her infant niece, whofe baby frame 
She holds unfit for Hymen's holy flame ; 
But for her riper felf, whofe flrength may bear 
The heavieft burden of connubial care. 

Tho' different phantoms dance before their fight, 
Niece, aunt, and father., in one wifh unite, 
To join the banquet is their common choice, 
The bufmefs paft with no di (Tenting voice ; 
And the warm fire in whom ambition burn'd, 
A note of grateful courtefy return'd : 



OF TEMPER. l^l 



His billet feal'd, the glad good-humour'd knight 
Launch'd forth, like Neftor, on his youthful might ; 
" Oh could I now, in fpite of age, retain 
That active vigour, and that fprightly vein, 
Which led me once, the lively laugh to raife 
Among the merrier wits of former days, 
When rival beauties would around me throng, 
And gay ridottos liften to my fong I 
Such were I now, as on the feftive night, 

When Ch h's charms amaz'd the public fight 5 

When the kind fair-one, in a veil fo thin 

That the clear gauze was but a lighter fkin, 

Mafk'd like a virgin juft prepared to die, 

Gave her plump beauties to each greedy eye ! 

On that fam'd night (for then with frolic fire 

Youth fill'd my heart, and humour flrung my lyre), 

Pleas'd in the fun-fhine of her fmile to bafk, 

I danc'd around her in a devil's mafk ; 

And idly chanted an infernal ode, 

In praife of all this female tempter fhow'd* 



142 THE TRIUMPHS 



The jocund crowd, who throng'd with me to gaze, 

Extoll'd my unpremeditated lays, 

And Sport, who flill of this old revel brags, 

* Styl'd her the fir ft of maids, and me of wags. 

Then a light devil, now, redue'd to limp, 

I am but fit to play the hag-born imp ; 

Still 3 not to crofs the frolic of this ball, 

Still as the tortoife Caliban I'll crawl, 

And if with gout my burning ankles flinch, 

I'll call it Profpero's tormenting pinch; 

Still in this ihape I'll fhew them what I am ; 

And Pen. fhall go as Sycorax my dam." 

So fpoke the knight; and fpoke with fo much 
weight, 
The liftening females faw his word was fate ;. 
For ne'er did Jove with fo refolv'd a brow 
To fmiling Love his joyous fcheme avow, 



See Neftor's fpeechin the nth Iliad, 



OF TEMPER. 143 



When he concerted, for his fpecial mirth, 

A mafquerading on the ftage of earth, 

And of the fwan'sfoft plume, or bull's rough hair 5 

Order'd the fancy-drefs he chofe to wear. 

From whence let fapient antiquarians (how 

The ancient ufe of mafquerades below. 

Serena fmil'd to fee this joyous fire 

Infufe new youth in her determin'd fire ; 

But mute Penelope, with half a figh, 

6i With one aufpicious and one dropping eye,* 3 

Heard the firm knight his fixt refolve impart. 

Tickling at once and torturing her heart. 

The ball fhe relifiVd, but abhorr'd the talk 

To hide her beauties in a beldam's mafk : 

Miranda's name would better fuit her plan, 

A fimple maiden, not afraid of man ; 

But us'd, alas ! her brother's law to feel, • 

She knows that law admits not of repeal. 

Trufting her charms will any garb enrich , 

She deigns to take the habit of a witch, 



144 THE TRIUMPHS 



Never did forcerefs in the {hades of night 
Try to illuminate a filthy fprite 
With fonder efforts, or with worfe fuccefs, 
Than Pen. now labour'd, in this wayward drefs. 
To give the fprightly fhow of living truth 
To the poor ghofl of her departed youth. 
As witches o'er their magic cauldron bend, 
Anxious to fee their menial imps afcend ; 
So in her glafs the ancient maiden pries, 
And dreams new graces in her perfon rife. 
No fuch delights, whole dear delufions pleafe, 
The mild Serena in her mirror fees; 
She, at whofe toilet beauty's latent queen 
Attends, enchanted with her filial mien, 
And o'er her favourite's unconfcious face 
Breathes her own rofeate glow and vivid grace. 
She haftes her glittering garments to adjuft. 
With all the modefl charms of fweet diftrufl. 
Doubting that beauty, which fhe doubts alone, 
Which dazzles every eye except her own. 



OF TEMPER. I45 



The native diffidence which fway'd her mind, 
Nows feels new terrors with its own combin'd; 
The robes of Ariel to the nymph recall 
Thofe difappointments that may yet befall ; 
As her fair hands the gauze or tiflue touch, 
They fondly warn her not to hope too much. 
She feels the friendly counfel they impart, 
And caution reigns prote&or of her heart. 

The fateful evening comes — the coach attends 3 
And firft the gouty Caliban afcends ; 
Then, in Deformity's well-fuited pride, 
Sour Sycorax is ftation'd by his fide ; 
Andlaft, with fportive fmiles, divinely fweet, 
Light Ariel perches on the vacant feat. 
Fancy now paints the fcene of pleafure near, 
Yet fluttering gaiety is check'd by fear. 
Her wifh to view the feftive fight runs high ; 
But the fond nymph remembers with a figb, 
From Hope's keen hand the cup of Joy may flip, 
And fall untafted, tho' it reach the lip. 



I46 THE TRIUMPHS 

As the fine artift, whofe nice toils afpire 
To fame eternal by encauftic fire ; 
If he, with grief, has feen the faithlefs heat 
Mar the rich labour it fhould make complete, 
When next his hands, with trembling care, confide 
To the fierce element his pencil's pride, 
Watches unceafing the pernicious flame, 
Terror and hope contending in his frame, 
While his fair work the dangerous fire fuftains, 
Feels it in all his fympathetic veins, 
And at each trivial found that chance may caufe, 
Hears the gem crack, and fees its cruel flaws : 
With fuch folicitude the panting maid 
Paft the long flreet, of every noife afraid. 
Now, while around her rival flambeaus flare. 
And the coach rattles thro* the crowded fquare, 
She fears fome dire mifchance mud yet befall, 
Some demon fnatch her from the promis'd ball ; 
And dreams no trial more fevere than this, 
So bright fhe figures the new fcene of blifs : 



OF TEMPER* I47 



Yet, horrid as it feems, her heart is bent 
To bear e'en this, and bear it with content. 

But, whirl'd at length within the porter's gate, 
She thinks what perils at the ball may wait ; 
And, as fhe now alights, the fluttering fair 
Invokes her guardian to protect her there, 
Till thoughts of danger, thoughts of caution, fly 
Before the magic blaze that meets her eye. 
Th' advancing nymph, at every flep fhe takes, 
Pants with amazement, doubtful if fhe wakes ; 
Far as her eyes the glittering fcene command, 
*Tis all enchantment, all a fairy land ; 
No veftiges of modern pomp appear, 
No modern melody falutes her ear : 
With Moorifh notes the echoing manfion rings, 
And its tranfmuted form to fancy brings 
The rich * Alhambra of the Moorifh kings. 
The peer, who keenly thirfts for fafhion's praife, 
To gild his revel with no common rays, 

* See the views of this palace in Swinburne's Travel*, 



2 4$ THE TRIUMPHS 

Summon'd his modifh architect, whofe fkill 

Can all the wifhes of caprice fulfil. 

His genius, equal to the wildeft tafk, 

Gave to the houfe itfelf a Gothic maik. 

The chaplain, that no gueft might feel neglect^ 

As a magician of the Arab feci:, 

Wav'd a prefiding wand throughout the ball, 

And well provided for the wants of all. 

The peer himfelf, his prowefs to evince^ 
Shines in the femblance of a Moorifh prince ; 
And round the brilliant mimic hero wait 
All pomp and circumflance of Moorifh ftate: 
Thro' all his fplendid dome no eye could find 
Aught unembellifh'd, fave the mailer's mind, 
There, tho' rep re ft by courtefy's control, 
Lurks the low mover of the little foul, 
Mean Vanity ; whofe flave can never prove 
The heart-refining flame of genuine love. 
While her cold joys his abject mind amufe, 
His thoughts are bufied on connubial views. 



OF TEMPER. 149 



His houfe complete, its decorations plac'd 
By the fure hand of fafhionable Tafle, 
He only wants, to crown his modifh life 5 
That laft and fineft moveable— a wife. 
She too mufl prove, to fix his coy defire, 
Such as the eye of fafhion will admire. 
His ball is but a jury, to decide 
Upon the merit of his fancied bride. 
If fweet Serena, on this fignal night, 
Shines the firft idol of the public fight ; 
If Gallantry's fixt eyes pronounce her fair. 
By the fure fign of one unceafing ftare ; 
And if, prophetic of her nobler doom, 
Each rival beauty fhudders at her bloom ; 
The dye is caft— he weds— the point is clear ; 
She cannot flight the vows of fuch a peer. 
Thus argued in his mind the feftive earl, 
And, left he lightly choofe an awkward girl, 
Wifely conven'd, on this important cafe ? 
Each fafhionable judge of female grace. 



l^O THE TRIUMPHS 

Here beaux efprits in various figures lurk. 

Of Jew and Gentile, Bramin, Tartar, Turk ; 

But of the manly mafks, a youthful bard 

Seem'd mofl to challenge beauty's foft regard : 

Adorn'd with native elegance, he wore 

In fimpleft form, the minflrel drefs of yore : 

They call him Edwin, who around him throng, 

Edwin, immortaliz'd in Beattie's fong ; 

And, footh to fay, within a comely frame 

He bore a heart that anfwer'd to the name ; 

For this neat habit deck'd a generous youth, 

Of gentleft manners, and fmcerefl truth. 

Tho' on his birth propitious Fortune fmil'd, 

No proud parental folly fpoiPd the child ; 

And Genius, more beneficently kind, 

Bleft with fuperior wealth his manly mind. 

Of years he barely counted twenty-one ; 

But, like a brilliant morn, his opening life begun. 

Fain would the Mufe on this her votary dwell, 

And fully paint the youth flie loves fo well ; 



OF TEMPER. l!ri 



His figure's charms, the muiic of his tongue, 
What nymphs his lays allur'd, what lays he fung ; 
But higher cares her rambling fong control ; 
Serena's perils fummon all her foul ; 
For Spleen, ambitious to exert her force, 
Confcious this trial is her lafl refource, 
Molt keenly bent on her pernicious tafk, 
Has fhifted round the bail from mafk to mafk, 
Watching the moment, with infernal care, 
To form with deeper! art her final fnare, 
And manacle the mind of the unguarded fair. 

It comes, the moment that muft fix her lot, . 
By her, ah, thoughtlefs maid ! by her forgot ; 
Tho' the light Hours, e'en in their frolic ring, 
Trembling perceive the fearful chance they bring, 
And, fhuddering at the nymph's terrific ftate, 
Seem anxious to fufpend her doubtful fate. 

Now focial eafe the place of fport fupplied, 
The hot oppreflive mafk was thrown aiide, 
And beauty fhone reveal'd in all her blufhing pride, ] 
L 2 



*5 2 



THE TRIUMPHS 



Superior (till in features as in form, 
With admiration flufiVd, with pleafure warm, 
The gay Serena every eye aliur'd ; 
The hearts her figure won her face fecur'd : 
A tender fweetnefs ftill the nymph maintain'd, 
And Modefty o'er all her graces reign'd. 
Well might her foul to brilliant hopes incline, 
A thoufand youths had call'd her charms divine ; 
A thoufand friends had whifper'd in her ear, 
That fate had mark'd her for the feftive peer. 
Her youthful fancy, tho' by pomp amus'd, 
WiftVd not thofe offers which her heart refus'd : 
That tender heart, by no vain pride pofleft, 
With indecifive trembling fhook her breaft, 
Like a young bird, that, fluttering in the air, 
Wifhes to build her neft, yet knows not where. 

The bufy earl, his puny love to raife, 
Hunted the circling whifper of her praife ; 
Heard Envy own her lovely charms, tho' loth, 
Heard Tafle attefl them with a modifh oath ; 



<$ha7p jGife . 



LondoiO'iib]iJliaSeptTi! t i 7 8 7 ,WT.Cadcll,StraTLd.. 



OF TEMPER. I53 

And, nuptial proje&s thickening in his mind, 
Now his fair partner in the dance rejoin'd. 
As now the fprightly mufic paus'd, my lord 
Eager refolv'd to touch a fofter chord ; 
Secure of all repulfe, he vainly meant 
Half to difplay, half hide his fond intent, 
And, in diffembled paffion's flowery tropes, 
To fport at leifure with the virgin's hopes : 
For this he fram'd a motley fpeech, replete 
With amorous compliment and vain conceit. 
The labour'd nothing with complacent pride 
He fpoke ; but to his fpeech no nymph replied : 
For in the moment, the loft fair devotes 
Her willing ear to more attractive notes. 
The minftrel happen'd near the nymph to walk, 
Rapt with a bofom-friend in fecret talk, 
And, at the inftant when the earl began 
Half to unfold his matrimonial plan, 
Edwin, in whifpers, from the crowd retir'd, 
Chanc'd to repeat the fonnet flie infpir'd ; 



3 54 THE TRIUMPHS 



The founds, tho' faint, her recolle&ion caught, 
Drew her quick eye, and fixt her wondering thought 
Loft in this fweet furprife, fhe could not hear 
A fingle accent of the amorous peer. 
Spleen faw the moment that fhe fought to gain. 
And perch'd triumphant on the noble's brain. 
With jealous envy ftung, and baffled pride, 
i: Contemptuous girl !" with fudden rage, he cried i 
c: If here to happier youths thy views incline, 
I want not fairer nymphs who challenge mine. 
Thy breaft in vain with penitence may burn ; 
But, once neglected, I no more return." 
Thus loudly fpeaking, with diftemper'd heat, 
Rudely he turn'd, with rancorous fcorn replete. 
Serena, flartled at th J injurious found, 
Survey 'd th' infulting peer, who fternly frown'd ; 
Shame and refentment thro* her bofom rufh, 
Swell every vein, and raife the burning blufh. 
Love, new-born love, but in its birth conceal'd* 
Nor to the nymph herfelf as yet reveal'd, 



OF TEMPER, 155 



And juft difdain, and anger's honeft flame. 

With complicated power convulfe her frame ; 

Contending pa (lions every thought confound, 

And in tumultuous doubt her foul is drown'd. 

Now treacherous pride, who tempts her tongue to trip, 

Forms to a keen reply her quivering lip : 

Infidious Spleen now hovers o'er the fair, 

Deems her half lock'd within her hateful fnare ; 

In her new Have preparing to rejoice, 

To taint her fpirit, and untune her voice. 

Haplefs Serena ! what can fave thee now ? 

The fiend's dark fignet {tamps thy clouded brow, 

In thy fwoln eye I fee the darting drop ; 

This fatal fhower, aetherial guardian ! flop : 

Hade to thy votary, hafle her foul fuftain, 

Nor let the trials {he has pafl be vain* 

Ah me ! while yet I fpeak, with fhuddering dread 

I hear the magic girdle's burfting thread. 

This horrid omen, ye kind powers ! avert ; 

Nor thou, bright zone ! thy brighter charge defert. 



I56 THE TRIUMPHS 



Ah, fruitlefs prayer ! her panting breaft behold ! 
See ! the gauze fhakes in many a ruffled fold ! 
Forc'd from their ftation by her heaving heart, 
From the ftrain'd girdle thrice three fpangles ftart t 
Thro' her diforder'd drefs a pafs they've found, 
And fallen, fee, they glitter on the ground ! — 
O bleffed chance ! with life-recalling light 
The glittering monitors attraft her fight ! 
Like ftars emerging from the darken'd pole, 
They fparkle fafety to her harafs'd foul. 
See ! from her brow the clouds of trouble fly ? 
Vexation's tear is vanifh'd from her eye ! 
Her rofy cheeks with Joy's new radiance burn, 
Like nature fmiling at the fun's return ; 
The nymph, no more with mental darknefs blind. 
Shines the fweet ruler of her refcu'd mind. 
Hence, hateful Spleen ! thy fancied prize refign, 
Renounce for ever what fhall ne'er be thine ; 
For, confcious of her airy guardian's aid, 
She feels new fpirit thro' her heart convey'd, 



OF TEMPER. I57 



And, inly blefling this vi&orious hour, 

Her foul exults in its recovered power. 

In fuch mild terms fhe hails th' infulting peer, 

As Spleen, if mortal, mull expire to hear ; 

But, driven for ever from the lovely girl, 

The foul fiend riots in the captive earl. 

He anfwers not ; but, with a fullen air, 

On happier Edwin, who approach'd the fair, 

Darts fuch a glance of rage and envious hate, 

As Satan caft on Eden's blifsful ftate, 

When on our parents firft he fixt his light, 

And undelighted gaz'd on all delight ; 

So doom'd to look, and doom'd fuch pangs to feel, 

Scornful he turn'd on his elaftic heel, 

" O lovely miidnefs ! O angelic maid ! 
Deferving homage, tho' to fcorn betray 'd ; 
Rife ftill, fweet fpirit, rife thefe wrongs above, 
Turn from injurious pride to faithful love | 



THE TRIUMPHS 



Tho' on my brow no coronet may fhine, % 

Wealth I can offer at thy beauty's fhrine, ^ 

And, worthier thee, a heart that worships thine." J 
Thus, with new -kindled love's afpiring flame, 
Spoke the fond youth conceal'd by Edwin's name, 
The gallant Falkland, rich in native worth, 
By fortune bleft, and not of abject birth* 
Warmly he fpoke, with that indignant heat 
With which the generous heart ne'er fails to beat, 
When worth infulted wakens virtuous ire. 
And injur'd beauty fets the foul on fire. 
Quick to his voice the ftartled virgin turn'd, 
With wonder, hope, and joy, her bofom burn'd ; 
With fweet confufion, flurried and amaz'd, 
On his attractive form fhe wildly gaz'd. 
Full on her thought the friendly vifions rufh'd ; 
Blufhing fheview'd him, view'd him ftill and bluftVd; 
And, foft affection quickening at the fight, 
Perchance had fwoon'd with fulnefs of delight, 



OF TEMPER. I59 



But that her father's voice, with quick control, 
Recall'd the fun&ions of her fainting foul. 
When on the diftant feat, where, fondly fixt, 
He view'd the nymph as in the dance fhe mixt, 
He indiftinftly heard, with wounded ear, 
The fpleenful outrage of the angry peer ; 
Sw T ift at th' imperfect found, with choler wild, 
He fprung to fuccour his infulted child ; 
But ere his fury into language broke, 
Love calm'd the dorm that arrogance awoke. 
The fudden burft of Falkland's tender flame, 
His winning manners, his diftinguifh'd name, 
His liberal foul, by Fortune's fmile careft, 
All join 'd to harmonize the father's bread. 
His fiery thoughts fubfide in glad furprife, 
And to the generous youth he warmly cries : 
" Ingenuous Falkland ! by thy franknefs won,. 
My willing heart would own thee for my fon ; 
But on thy hopes Serena mtift decide : — 
Hafte we together from this houfe of pride." 



l6o THE TRIUMPHS 

So fpoke the fire ; for, to her votary kind, 
Sophrosyne infpir'd his fbften'd mind. 
Speaking, he fmil'd, to fee that on his word 
The lover hung, and blefl the founds he heard; 
That his embarrafs'd child his fentence caught 
With each tumultuous fign of tender thought ; 
Whofe blufhes, fpringing from the heart, declare 
The dawn of fondnefs in the modefl fair. 
Th' enchanted youth with ecftafy convey'd 
Porth from the troubled feaft the trembling maid. 

As the keen failor, whom his daring foul 
Has drawn, too vent'rous, near the freezing pole ; 
Who, having flighted Caution's tame advice, 
Seems wedg'd within impervious worlds of ice : 
If, from each chilling form of peril free, 
At length he reach the unincumber'd fea. 
With joy fuperior to his tranlient pain, 
Rufhes, exulting, o'er th' expanfive main : 
Such ftrong delight Serena's bofom fhar'd, 
When fweet refle&ion to her heart declar'd, 



OF TEMPER. l6l 



That all the trials of her fate were pad, 

And Love's decifive plaudits feal'd the laft. 

Her airy guard prepares the foftefh down, 

From Peace's wing, to line the nuptial crown : 

Her frniles accelerate the bridal morn, 

And clear her votary's path from every thorn. 

On the quick match the Prude's keen cenfures fallj 

Blind to the heavenly power who guided all : 

But mild Serena fcorn'd the prudifh play, 

To wound warm love with frivolous delay ; 

Nature's chafte child, not AfFeftation's flave, 

The heart {he meant to give, fhe frankly gave. 

Thro' her glad fire no gouty humours run, 

Jocund he glories in his deftin'd fon. 

Penelope herfelf, no longer feen 

In the four femblance of tormenting Spleen, 

Buys for her niece the robes of nuptial ftate, 

Nor fcolds the mercer once thro' all the long debate* 

For quick difpatch, the honeft man of law 

Toils half the night the legal ties to draw, 



l62 THE TRIUMPHS 

At length th' enraptur'd youth, all forms complete, 

Bears his fweet bride to his paternal feat : 

On a fair lawn the cheerful manfion ftood, 

And high behind it rofe a circling wood. 

As the bleft lord of this extenfive reign 

Led his dear partner thro' her new domain, 

With fond furprife, Serena foon defcried 

A temple rais'd to her setherial guide. 

Its ornaments fhe view'd with tender awe, 

Their fafhion fuch as fhe in vifion faw ; 

For the kind youth, her grateful fmile to gain, 

Had, from her clear description, deck'd the fane. 

Joyful he cried to his angelic wife, 

u Be this kind power the worfhip of our life !" 

He fpoke ; and led her to the inmoft fhrine ; 

Here, linked in rofy bands, two votaries fhine; 

The pencil had imparted life to each, 

With energy that feem'd beyond its reach. 

Firft ftood Connubial Love, a manly youth, 

Whofe bright eye fpoke the ardent vows of truth ; 



OF TEMPER, 



163 



Friendfhip, fweet fmiling-, fill'd the fecond place. 
In all the fofter charms of virgin grace, 
Their meeting arms a myftic tablet raife, 
Deck'd with thefe lines, the moral of my lays:— < 
" Virtue's an ingot of Peruvian gold, 
Sense the bright ore Potofi's mines unfold ; 
But Temper's image muft their ufe create, 
And give thefe precious metals fterling weight. 53 




London : printed by R. Noble, 
in the Old Bailey, 



7 41 


















xO O^ 















■ 























• 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: March 2009 

PreservationTechnologies 



A WORLD LEADER IN CO! I nr.ji~.MS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 1 6066 
(724)779-2111 









**> 









B « <* 






C$ 






£ ^ 




■Kt \> ^ 

o 
v a 










,* s V 



